Skip to main content
Category

Uncategorized

Sustainable Filmmaking at Staffordshire University

By Uncategorized No Comments

The film department has signed up to the BAFTA Albert Educational Partnership and is working with a number of other universities to contribute to a graduate training programme which promotes sustainable practices. The move was inspired by film production student Rebecca Head who researched eco-friendly filmmaking for her final year project and encouraged her lecturers to make the change.

Rebecca, age 25, from Birmingham, said: “The idea came after I saw a campaign to use different lighting in theatres – in the film industry we use very similar lights and they are not very eco-friendly. Then when I started researching it more, it just snowballed.” Through her project, Rebecca discovered a number of ways that film makers can embed sustainable practices into their productions.

“In pre-production, most of it is paper-based but we can try be more digital and have less physical paperwork. Then going into production, we can use LED lighting on film sets which represent colour better as well as being more efficient and cost effective.” she explained. “You can also do things like stop using single-use plastics, have vegan catering on set and recycle as much as you can – for example by re-using costumes. I’m also really excited about the idea of using more solar energy!”

Rebecca graduated this summer and hopes to become a cinematographer but continues to promote green filmmaking as part of her freelance work.

From September, Staffordshire University will include sustainability in all its film courses. Senior Lecturers Paul Ottey and Colin Mottram have attended training and development sessions in preparation for delivering the scheme.

Paul said: “We will aim to offer the training to all film students. There will be specific training days and we will integrate the principles of more sustainable filmmaking through all of our teaching. It’s a great opportunity to join up with the albert educational consortium, as a group we can make a real difference for more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in the TV and film industries. Also, as Albert graduates the links to BAFTA and major companies such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and SKY give our students great opportunities.”

 

Source: www.expressandstar.com

 

For more industry information, visit our news page.

Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

 

bafta award

BAFTA Announces New Casting Award

By Uncategorized No Comments

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has published the rules and timeline for the EE British Academy Film Awards 2020, following its annual review of all categories. BAFTA’s Film Committee undertakes this review each year in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders across the industry.

New Casting Award

BAFTA will be introducing a Casting award. This is the first new category since Outstanding Debut (as the Carl Foreman Award) was presented in 1999 and will recognise achievements in the craft of casting and its importance in film-making. A Casting award will also be introduced to the British Academy Television Craft Awards in 2020, marking the first time BAFTA has simultaneously introduced a category.

Pippa Harris, Chair of BAFTA, said “BAFTA’s Awards exist to recognise excellence across the industry and we are delighted this year to be including the highly skilled work of casting directors for the first time. Casting is essential to the screen industries, and vital in terms of promoting diversity and inclusion on-screen. We hope this Award will also help to promote an understanding of casting and look forward to seeing who will be the first winner in February!”

Lucy Bevan, Casting Director (Cats, Maleficent), said “I am delighted that a Casting award will be introduced at both the Film and Television Craft Awards this year, it is a great honour for our industry to be recognised by BAFTA and I look forward to seeing many deserving, talented casting professionals receive the award in the years to come. I would like to thank BAFTA on behalf of casting directors across the world, it is terrific news for our profession.”

BAFTA also announced that the Original Music category is to be renamed Original Score, underlining a focus on composer and score, and acknowledging the integral part they play in contributing to the narrative, atmosphere and emotional landscape of the film.

BAFTA Key Dates

The Film Awards will take place in London on Sunday 2 February, with nominations to be announced on Tuesday 7 January. The Film Awards will be returning to the Royal Albert Hall for a fourth year. The 2020 timeline is available in full at www.bafta.org

2019    

Monday 2 September              Deadline for Outstanding Debut titles

Tuesday 22 October                 Deadline for submission of Stage One entry forms

Thursday 21 November             Deadline for Stage Two entry submission

Friday 29 November                 Draft Entered Films list to be made available to voters and entrants

Friday 6 December                   Deadline for requests to changes to the Draft Entered, Films list and SVFX Statements

Wednesday 11 December        Films released in the UK after 1 January 2020 must be screened to BAFTA voters by this date to qualify

Thursday 12 December             Round One voting opens at 10:00

Monday 30 December             Round One voting closes at 18:00, Deadline for SVFX reels

2020    

Tuesday 7 January                   Nominations announcement, Round Two voting opens

Wednesday 29 January            Round Two voting closes at 18:00

Friday 31 January                     All entered films to have been screened to the public by this date (except for FNIEL titles, which must be screened to the public by Friday 28 February)

Sunday 2 February                   EE British Academy Film Awards

 

Source: www.bafta.org

 

For more industry information, visit our news page.

Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

three women smiling holding trophies

BIFA 2019 Short Film Entries Open – Final Deadline 30th August

By Uncategorized No Comments
BIFA is now accepting entries for the Best British Short Film Award, supported by BFI NETWORK, for the 2019 Awards ceremony. See the below call for submissions from BIFA, and please read carefully as there are a few small changes this year:

ENTRY DEADLINES & FEES

Entering a short film to BIFA is still free for the majority of the time that entries are open. However, there are some new deadlines and fees towards the end of the entry period. To avoid these, please enter your films as early as possible!

The new deadlines & entry fees for short films are*:

Entries open to midnight 8th August – FREE

9th August to midnight 22nd August – £15

23rd August to midnight 30th August – £30

(*These prices exclude VAT)

Friday 30th August is the final entry deadline and no entries will be accepted after this date.

If you can’t enter your film before the fees kick in (eg. if you won’t hear about a festival acceptance until after the 8th August), please contact us on hello@bifa.film and we may be able to issue a fee waiver.

QUALIFYING FESTIVALS / ONLINE CHANNELS

The following festivals have been added to the list of festivals that qualify short films to enter the category:

Bechdel Test Fest – Annual

BFI Future Film Festival – February

East End Film Festival – April

Iris Prize – October

Open City Docs – September

UK Jewish Film Festival – November

You can see the full list of BIFA 2019 qualifying film festivals for short films here.

 

We have also updated our list of qualifying online channels, which is now:

VICE

The Guardian Docs

New York Times Op-Docs

Field of Vision

NOWNESS

BBC Three

Channel 4

 

NON-QUALIFYING FESTIVALS

The following festivals have been removed from the list. If your film has played at one of these festivals and you wish to enter it to BIFA, you can get in touch to ask for an exception to be made:

Amsterdam Int’l Doc Film Fest

Gothenburg Int’l Film Festival

Slamdance Film Festival

Aspen Shortsfest

Hot Docs Film Festival

Stockholm Int’l Film Festival

Bilbao Film Festival

Locarno Film Festival

Tampere Int’l Short Film

Brest European Short Film Festival

Melbourne Int’l Film Festival

Telluride Film Festival

Chicago Int’l Film Festival

New York Int’ lFilm Festival

Uppsala Int’l Short Film Festival

Flanders Int’l Film Festival

Oberhausen Int’l Short Film Festival

 

BFI DIVERSITY STANDARDS

We’d like to get more short film filmmakers aware of, and thinking about, the BFI Diversity Standards. We will be asking all entrants to familiarise themselves with the Diversity Standards and to informally assess their films against them as part of the entry process. You don’t need to formally meet the Standards but you do need to tell us how your project contributes to meeting their aims.

You can read more about the BFI Diversity Standards here.

OTHER RULES

We will no longer be accepting entries of music videos, fashion or experimental films. The category is for short fiction or documentary films.

HOW TO ENTER A FILM

  1. Read the rules – here
  2. Head on over to our Entries page
  3. If you already have an account, log in
  4. If you don’t already have an account, create one via the ‘Register’ tab
  5. Log in to your account and head back to the Entries page  (if you aren’t there already)
  6. Click on the ‘New Entry’ button and fill in the form

If you have any questions or problems, please get in touch with us via hello@bifa.film

Source: www.bifa.film

 

For more industry information, visit our news page.

Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

ShortFuse logo

Submit Your Short Film to ShortFuse! Deadline August 31st

By Uncategorized No Comments

Are you a filmmaker from or based in the West Midlands, with a short film you want to see on the big screen?

Submissions are now open for Film Birmingham’s next ShortFuse event on Tuesday 24th September 2019. Regional Filmmakers will be given the opportunity to screen their short films at the Mockingbird Cinema and Kitchen with an audience of their peers and film enthusiasts. Filmmakers from outside the region will also be considered if their submitted shorts were filmed in the West Midlands, or use predominantly regional crew or cast.

ShortFuse is a bi-monthly event, aiming to engage with regional audiences and provide a platform for the work of emerging filmmakers. Creatives will benefit from workshops, expert talks and professional feedback. We are accepting films of any genre from emerging or established filmmakers for this regional event.

Past Events

In July 2019, our programme included ‘Sylvia’, winner of the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker award at Cannes. David Poole, whose film ‘Visions’ was screened, took part in the Q&A along with other filmmakers. He said it was an “amazing evening for ShortFuse – terrific turnout, fantastic selection of films and a great atmosphere. Hugely positive feedback for Vision and I  loved being part of the Q&A afterwards… I’m still incredibly inspired.”

Our first ShortFuse event at the Mockingbird in May 2019 showcased six regional films, including the BAFTA-winning short 73 Cows, directed by Alex Lockwood. Audience members were invited to participate in a Q&A following the screening and to network at a post-event mingle.

According filmmaker Adam Palmer, whose short film Answer was featured on ShortFuse’s opening night, said: “It’s great that ShortFuse offers a platform to showcase the work of filmmakers who sometimes get overlooked in the Midlands. It’s often London and elsewhere. There are some really great films screened as well.

“If you have a short film, submit it. You get to watch it with an audience so you can gauge how your film is. A lot of the time you sit there one-on-one with your film and you don’t know how it’s going to be received. So it’s good to be part of a community of filmmakers and film lovers.”

Attendee Lee Davis said: “After seeing the regional films, it made me feel like filmmaking is something I could do. I thought the range of the films was very varied, and it was good to hear from BAFTA-winners. I had seen 73 cows online, but seeing it on the big screen I could concentrate more on technical aspects and shots. ”

To Submit

Deadline for ShortFuse submissions is midnight, August 31st, 2019.

Please email shortfuse@filmbirmingham.co.uk with a completed ShortFuse – Film Submission Form AND a viewing link for your short film. All films must be under 30 minutes. If selected, you will be asked to provide promotional materials including a trailer and stills and a hi-res version of your film, and a £25 screening fee.

Please email shortfuse@filmbirmingham.co.uk for any further information.

 

To find out more about Film Birmingham, visit our website, and visit our news page for more industry information.

Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

Midlands Filmmakers on screen at Leicester’s International Short Film Festival

By Uncategorized No Comments

Leicester’s international short film festival, The Short Cinema returns to Phoenix for its 13th edition screening some of the best short films from around the world with a strong focus on Midlands makers. Why not walk the red carpet and celebrate the talent in our region and beyond?

See below a list of events during the festival, ranging from The Short Cinema programmes to workshops, award shows and industry days.

 

OSKA BRIGHT SCREENING

Tue 20 Aug, 7pm – Oska Bright presents Window into our World. Take a peek into the lives of people with learning disabilities from all over the globe and challenge your world view.

BFI NETWORK SHORTS

Wed 21 Aug, 7pm – Thinking of applying for BFI NETWORK funding? Here’s a chance to see some of the films successfully funded by BFI NETWORK and hear from the filmmakers.

IRIS PRIZE LGBTQ+ SHORTS

Wed 21 Aug, 8.30pm – Iris Prize is regarded as the Academy Awards of LGBTQ+ film. These award-winning films from Iris 2018 tell modern stories from around the world with humour, heart and honesty.

 

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME

Thu 22 Aug, 7pm – Enjoy a mix of global talent in live action, animation and documentary.

 

KEYED ALIKE VR

Fri 23 Aug, 7pm – Phoenix Interact Labs resident and virtual reality filmmaker Alex Rühl presents her short VR film Keyed Alike.

BRITISH SHORTS

Fri 23 Aug, 8.15pm – What does it mean to be British in 2019? Comedy, drama and horror come together to showcase individuals, communities and stories from our nation.

HORROR SHORTS

Fri 23 Aug, 10pm – This Encounters curated programme includes zombie feasts, extreme foley sessions, psychological thrills, and domestic nightmares.

FAMILY SHORTS

Sat 24 Aug, 10.30am – Fortune favours the brave in this collection of animated shorts from around the world, curated by Flatpack Festival. Suitable for ages 4+

BFI NETWORK MIDLANDS INDUSTRY DAY

Thu 22 Aug, 11am – 5pm – On Thursday 22 August, BFI NETWORK will be hosting a free industry day for talent from the Midlands region.

For more industry information, visit our news page.

Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

 

BFI Network’s Short Film Funding Day – August 23rd

By Uncategorized No Comments

About the Event

The BFI NETWORK Midlands Short Film Fund Application Workshop is for talent based in the Midlands who want to apply for BFI NETWORK short film funding.

The day will give an in-depth look at the specific requirements of the fund guidelines and elements of the applications including:

  • Presenting the creative track record of your team
  • Communicating why your story is pertinent and why you are the best person to tell it
  • Budgeting
  • Scheduling
  • Ensuring your script is ready for application

The morning will look at the application process led by BFI NETWORK and the afternoon will focus specifically on script development run by Writer/Director Steven Shiel.

Event Details

Fri, 23 August 2019, 10:30 – 17:00 BST

Phoenix Cinema and Art Centre

4 Midland Street, Leicester, LE1 1TG

 

Book your place HERE.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Not turning up or cancelling last minute reduces the opportunities we are able to offer to regional talent and impacts on our ability to continue to provide these free events. Please help us by only booking if you definitely intend to come.

 

Source: eventbrite.co.uk

 

For more industry information, visit our news page.

Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

Industry Talent Day for Midlands Creatives – August 22nd

By Uncategorized No Comments

On Thursday 22 August, BFI NETWORK will be hosting a free industry day for talent from the Midlands region.

About the Industry Day

In the morning the British Council Film Team are leading a session for writers, directors and producers, providing a chance to hear more about British Council’s Travel Grant Scheme, which has recently been further developed to help filmmakers travel to international labs, as well as international short film festivals. Come along and hear from a filmmaker from our region who has travelled internationally with the support of the scheme, and meet some of the British Council’s Film Team.

Following a networking lunch BFI NETWORK will be joined by the BFI Young Audience Content Fund team who will give some more information about the new £57 million scheme. The fund has been set up to stimulate the provision of public service-original UK content for 0-18 year olds, and will be a positive injection of investment to open new avenues for creators of original content and bring new voices to the market.

Event details:

Thu, 22 August 2019, 11:00 – 17:00 BST

Phoenix Cinema, 4 Midland Street, Leicester, LE1 1TG

PLEASE NOTE: Not turning up or cancelling last minute reduces the opportunities BFI NETWORK is able to offer to regional talent and impacts on their ability to continue to provide these free events. Please only book if you definitely intend to come.

 

Source: eventbrite.co.uk

For more industry information, visit our news page.

Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

expressions of interest

Call for Expressions of Interest from the Inaugural Chair of Screen Industry Body

By Uncategorized No Comments

Below is a message from Ed Shedd, Inaugural Chair of Screen Industry Body

In the most significant shake-up of support for the West Midlands’ screen sector for nearly a decade, the region will soon have a new industry-led membership body.

I am now seeking expressions of interest from individuals who want to join me to be part of this unique opportunity to help shape the future direction of the WM screen sector.

This powerful new private-sector leadership structure has the mandate from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the three Local Enterprise Partnerships to help shape public funding, to secure new public/private investment, to develop dynamic programmes of delivery and to oversee the promotion of the regional screen sector.

The idea is to establish a new way of working in the region in order to create an agile and responsive screen ecosystem which is able to respond to the rapidly changing nature of the global content industry.

To do this, the new body will put industry in the driving seat. It will connect with public sector organisations, stakeholders and existing networks by adopting a collaborative leadership approach rather than creating a top-down agency or quango.

This game-changing new initiative was announced by the Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street on 4th July, following extensive consultation with businesses and partners across the region and with support from national stakeholders such as BFI, PACT, Creative England, Ukie and ScreenSkills.

To kick start this process, I have been appointed as in the body’s inaugural Chair.  As a proud Brummie and now Deloitte’s North and South Europe Technology, Media, Telecommunications (TMT) Industry Leader, I hope to be able to bring my global perspective and contacts to help support to the region

A report detailing the background and setting out the next steps can be found here – wmca.assetbank-server.com

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) PROCESS 

Inaugural members will be individuals with an exceptional track record with the following experience:

  • Currently working in the private, for-profit screen sector.
  • Creating content, products or services for national or international markets.
  • Operating at a senior level or demonstrating significant influence within your field.
  • Exemplary contacts and networks within your field.
  • A passion for growing the region’s screen sector.
  • Operating from a base in Greater Birmingham, Solihull, Black Country, Coventry or Warwickshire.

Inaugural members will initially work with me, industry-specialist Suzie Norton and WMCA to help shape the new body ahead of a formal launch in early October.

The role is non-executive and unpaid, with members expected to have the capacity to attend a physical meeting every two months, with regular virtual communication between members.

I am  initially seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from potential members, ahead of a more formal appointment process. 

To submit an EOI please complete very short survey HERE 

Definitions:

‘Screen Sector’ is defined as film, television, games, animation, high-end TV, branded-content, vlogger/influencer, VFX, immersive tech and those businesses directly in the supply chain such as legal, real estate development, marketing and communications.

‘Screen Industry’ refers to businesses within the screen sector supply chain.

‘Private-sector’ refers to commercial enterprises or individuals developing content, products or services for profit.

For more industry information, visit our news page.

Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

Chair of New West Midlands Screen Industry Body Announced

By Uncategorized No Comments

A new Screen Industry Body to boost the West Midlands’ TV, film and games industries has been announced today by Andy Street – a move that could help bring 29,000 new jobs to the region.

The new body, which has been developed by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in conjunction with the region’s three Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), will be chaired by Deloitte’s international industry heavyweight Ed Shedd.

Birmingham-born Shedd will preside over the board, which will comprise top talent from across the region’s screen businesses and will serve as a single point of contact for national and international film, TV and game makers.

It is hoped the new body, which will be industry-led, will revolutionise the current screen industry, helping to drive investment, growth and thousands of new jobs.

Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “The West Midlands has a strong screen industry with a string of success stories – not least Leamington Spa’s gaming cluster which employs 10% of the UK gaming industry. However we have learnt from the region’s Channel 4 bid and from engaging with industry leaders that there is a lot more that can be done to support the screen sector so the West Midlands can truly be recognised as a world-class centre for creative content.

“We plan to see 29,000 new, high skilled jobs in the digital and creative industries by 2030, but we will not be able to achieve this without having an industry body in place to help the region capitalise on the fast-growing creative sector. For the screen sector to realise its full potential, the brightest and best entrepreneurs from the industry need to have the structure and mandate to drive forward that growth. This new body will provide just that.” 

With an aim to launch in the autumn of this year, the body hopes to act as a coordinating and powerful voice for the sector. Existing networks like Film Birmingham, Screen Central and Silicon Spa will partner with the new body to deliver programmes of activity, which will be at arms-length from local government.

There are four key aims of the new body, including:

  • Develop a single delivery plan and help turn strategy into action
  • Secure and deliver both public and private funds
  • Commission a variety of programmes of activity
  • Both lobby and promote the West Midlands screen industry

Inaugural chairman Shedd, who is Deloitte’s TMT North and South Europe leader, is a well-known screen industry figure operating at an international level with a wealth of experience.

He said: “I am extremely excited about becoming the inaugural chair of this new Screen Industry Body. The screen industries are undergoing fundamental transformation, driven by the advent of near ubiquitous, high-speed connectivity in both fixed and mobile forms. The West Midlands is perfectly positioned to respond to and benefit from that transformation. 

“The traditional media structure and locations that have dominated UK and global media are changing. Creatives no longer need to be wholly present in London, New York and LA. I look forward to working with industry, WMCA and partners to establish this powerful industry structure to help the region capitalise on this opportunity.”

Other members of the new board will be announced in the coming weeks, with applications for those in the screen industry opening soon. As well as announcing the new Screen Industry Body, the WMCA has also produced a report around the region’s screen industry and where its future lies.

It comes after the UK’s first Local Industrial Strategy was launched in the West Midlands earlier this year, with greater economic emphasis placed on the creative sector going forward.

Councillor Ian Brookfield, the leader of City of Wolverhampton Council and the WMCA’s portfolio lead for Economy and Innovation, said: “As the new portfolio lead for the Local Industrial Strategy and the creative industries across the West Midlands, I welcome the mayor’s announcement today of a new screen industry body.

“It is important that this body serves to support the whole of the region, in all its diversity and difference. I want to ensure that creative talent and businesses from the Black Country to Birmingham, from Coventry to Leamington Spa all have the chance to benefit from this new opportunity. “So, I am making a commitment today as creative industries lead to work with my colleagues at the WMCA and the various city councils and LEPs to support this new exciting phase for the West Midlands screen sector.”

Mayor Street announced the new body and report at a West Midlands Screen Bureau event this week. The third Design Lab event, which debated the structure and recent developments around the screen industry, was the final event in a programme supported by the BFI’s Creative Clusters Challenge Fun through National Lottery investment and supported by both the WMCA and Birmingham City Council.

BFI CEO Amanda Nevill has welcomed the news of the new industry body.

She said: “We really congratulate the West Midlands for having the foresight to capitalise on one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK, worth over £100bn to our economy today.  This is great news for a whole range of businesses that will benefit from a thriving screen sector in the area, creating jobs and new international trading opportunities.

“It has been great to see BFI National Lottery funding being part of this new chapter supporting the next generation of creative storytellers in The West Midlands.”

Source: www.bqlive.co.uk

For more industry information, visit our news page.

Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.

Safety Management in Film and TV Production – October 12th

By Uncategorized No Comments

The Production Guild is running their Safety Management in Film & TV Production delivered by Media Safety Limited – a one day course held at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden Park on the 12th October which will not only help keep you and your colleagues safe, but will look great on your CV.

The lead course tutor is Jake Edmonds who has been at the forefront of film safety for 30 years. Jake has overseen many productions – including all eight of the Harry Potter films, and provides safety solutions in the UK and abroad. For more information click here: https://tinyurl.com/yylnep6f

This one-day course is designed and delivered by Media Safety Limited covering Health & Safety for freelancers and the employed working in Film & TV Production. It is IOSH and Safety Passport approved. Training is a comprehensive industry specific course delivered by Health & Safety practitioners allowing you to fully understand what skills and knowledge are needed for you to perform your role in production safely and efficiently. These essential skills are recognised and valued by productions and HoDs.

This course is for those working at all levels in Film or TV particularly attendees on past Runner and Location Assistant courses and media students. You must be over 18 to attend this course.

How will it benefit their career?

  • Delegates who successfully complete the course received an IOSH Safety Management in Film & TV Certificate, work book and registration onto the ScreenSkills ‘Hiive’ database.
  • Develop their health and safety knowledge and skills on production.
  • Help their employment opportunities with productions and HoDs.

Skills covered include: Risk Assessment, Checking Competency and Case Studies, H&S Legislation and IOSH Safety Management in Film & TV certificate

For more industry information, visit our news page.

Or add us on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.