SWIF digest ๐ฌ 15 April 2025
Meet ups, screenings, film funds and more for the south west independent film community.

๐ฅ Hello filmmakers. I'm interested in hearing from those of you who have been on a creative/writing retreat (either solo or group based) and what the best/worst bits were. Drop me a reply to this email. Thanks.
๐ These digests will always be free but please consider paid subscription to support the work. Options start from ยฃ1 per week & include filmmaker resources.
Hereโs your weekly digest for independent film in the South West:
๐ฅณ Congrats to the Bottleyard Studio team on being named the most sustainable film and TV studio in the world by BAFTA Albert. - BYS

๐ Bristol Film & Video Society's next meetup is tonight (15 Apr), open to all cast & crew roles. They're in pre-production on shorts and a feature right now. - BFVS
๐๐ฟ Black Bristol on Film, exploring Bristol's rich and complex history with its Black community, screens on 21 Apr with Q&As with the filmmakers. - Headfirst
โ๏ธ Filmmakers Plymouth Social's second event takes place 24 Apr and attendees have the chance to win Everyman cinema tickets. Meet, share work and hear about what other SW filmmakers are up to. - Eventbrite
๐ฉ๐ผโ๐คโ๐ฉ๐พ Cornwall Filmmakers' spring social takes place in Newquay on 24 Apr. - Eventbrite
๐ Tabb's next script lab takes place in Bath on 26 Apr. Calling Writers, Actors, Directors & Producers. - Tabb
๐ฎ See new writing at Bristol Old Vic's scratch night on 28 Apr. - BOV
๐ Networking in Southampton on 29 Apr from Purple Cow Film. - Eventbrite
๐โโ๏ธ Rave on for the Avon, the feature-length documentary following the Bristol community's fight to save their river in unique & daring ways, screens on 25 May followed by a Q&A. - Headfirst
๐ The Producer's Roundtable survey wants your responses to form an honest look at the challenges facing indie film producers right now. - Google form
๐ If you run a film festival don't forget to add it to the British Council's database. - BC
๐๐ฝโโ๏ธ BIFA's Springboard programme for writers, directors & producers who have already completed their first feature and have a second currently in development, is open for applications until 5 May. - BIFA
๐ฉ Bad Wolf Productions in Cardiff have opened their Costume Dailies talent pool for applications. Experience in period tv drama desirable. - Screen Alliance Wales
๐บ๐ผ Casting call for a male 20/30s for a dary-comedy short in Bath in May. - Tabb
๐ป Assistant Director needed for a spooky short in Bath in May. - Tabb
๐๏ธ The Flavel Arts Centre Dartmouth need a Head of Programming & Operations. Deadline 18 Apr. - Arts Jobs
๐ต๐ฝโโ๏ธ Producer/Director needed at BBC's Wales Investigates in Cardiff. Deadline 28 Apr. - BBC
๐ค Saltash Studios, a brand new arts centre in Cornwall, need Event Managers. Deadline 1 Jul. - SS
๐ญ For those open to pivoting into a theatre job: Workshop Manager at Sherman Theatre Cardiff, Technical Production Lead at Bakehouse Factory Bristol, Costume Supervisor at Insane Root Theatre Bristol, Deputy Head of Lighting at Theatre Royal Plymouth, Producer at Can't Sit Still Gloucestershire, Senior Producer at Strike A Light Gloucester. - Arts Jobs
๐ Saatchi's new creator showcase for filmmakers who have yet to make branded content is open for applications until 25 Apr, for their showcase at Cannes. - Saatchi
๐ง Aesthetica x Audible's documentary fund 'Listening Pitch', closes for applications on 21 Apr. - Aesthetica Film Festival
๐ฃ๏ธ First Flights' female voices short film fund closes on 30 Apr. - FF
๐ค BFI Doc Society's short film fund is open until 1 May. - BFI Doc Soc
๐ธ Apply now for the Venice gap-financing market to secure financing for your feature/ animation/ documentary/ immersive project. Deadline 1 May. - La Biennale di Venezia
๐ฎ Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Queer Vision, Ingite (both 18 Apr), Cornwall (20 Apr), Fortean (25 Apr), Cardiff Mini (28 Apr), Pompeywood Genre & Cornwall Monologue Competition (both 30 Apr) - FilmFreeway
๐ Bluescreen Bristol presents No Reason Short film festival on 23 Apr, screening the best shorts of 10 years of the festival. - Headfirst
โ The 7th annual Bristol Radical History festival, a series of free talks & radical films, takes place 26-27 Apr. - Headfirst
๐ฉโโค๏ธโ๐ฉ The personals: Nothing this week. Get in touch for a listing.
๐ฟ On film club: Pressure dir. Horace Ovรฉ (on BFIplayer) & The Ascent dir. Larisa Shepitko (on Amazon Prime)
๐ฃ Have something to share on the next digest? Could be an event, workshop, behind the scenes updates, crew call, showcasing your work, or a personal ad. Get in touch! hollyholdsworth@gmail.com
๐ If you found this helpful please forward it to a friend.
Until next week!
Holly Holdsworth (she/her)
Writer/Director. bsky website
Inclusion in this email does not denote endorsement. I will always try to platform the best opportunities for this community and am not affiliated with any organisation, unless explicitly mentioned besides the link.