SWIF digest 📬 20 May 2025
Meet ups, screenings, film funds and more for the south west independent film community.
🎥 Hello filmmakers. I'm back in the UK and heading to Romford Film Festival this weekend. You'll have to forgive me for a shorter digest this week, I'm only just back on land.
🙏 These digests will always be free but please consider paid subscription to support the work. Options start from £1 per week & include filmmaker resources.
🚗 I'm thinking of doing a SWIF roadtrip in August! If you'd like to co-host a local event with me or just grab coffee that month, drop me an email.
Here’s your weekly digest for independent film in the South West:
👋 Filmmakers Plymouth Social's next meet up is 22 May. Meet, share work & hear about what other local SW filmmakers are up to. - Fotonow
🌊 Rockaway Park are hosting a screening & Q&A for Rave on the Avon on 25 May; the feature-length documentary that follows Bristol community's fight to save their river in unique & daring ways. - Headfirst
🟦 Short film night Bluescreen (a favourite of mine) takes place in Bristol on 28 May. Say hi if you see me. - Headfirst
🍲 Bristol Food Network hosts a screening of documentary Rooted in Bristol as part of food justice fortnight on 5 Jun. - Headfirst
🥂 Bristol Creative Industries hosts their next networking night on 10 Jun. - BCI
🏝️ A short film screening to celebrate Windrush Day takes place on 20 Jun in Newport. - Eventbrite
🏳️🌈 Waterstones Bristol are hosting a conversation with the author of It Used to be Witches, a "non-chronological treasure-hunt through queer cinema past & present". 27 Jun. - Eventbrite
🧃 So it turns out the date I had put aside for the SWIF picnic I'm actually meant to be at a gig with my sister. Oops! New date of 5 Jul from 12noon at Ashton Court Bristol. - SWIF picnic post
🖼️ Arts University Plymouth's MA graduate show is 24-31 July. - Eventbrite
👨🏽💻 Production Coordinator Trainee needed at Trigger in the Mendip Hills. Deadline 21 May. - Trigger
🏋️♂️ ScreenSkills are hiring a Training Liaison Manager in Wales. Deadline 23 May. - Screen Alliance Wales
🐧 Aardman in Bristol are hiring a Trainee Camera Assistant, Trainee Electrician & Executive Assistant to the MD & Executive Board. Deadlines 23 & 28 May. - Aardman
🧑🎨 Swindon Borough Council are hiring a Head of Culture, Heritage, Arts & Special Events. Deadline 4 Jun. - SBC
🙋🏽♀️ The Sherborne are seeking proposals for creative workshops for children and adults. Deadline 8 Jun. - Arts Jobs
👑 Creative Kernow is seeking a Chief Executive. Deadline 16 Jun. - CK
📝 Villages in Action's "From Devon With Love" artist development programme is open to scratch performance submissions until 27 May. - Arts Jobs
💸 IRIS Prize documentary film financing fund is open until 1 Jun. Applicants must be based in Wales. - IRIS Prize
📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Pompey Wood Genre (20 May), Iris Prize LGBTQ+, Cornwall Monologue (both 25 May), Encounters (29 May), Hell Tor (30 May) & Two Short Nights (31 May). - FilmFreeway
🎪 Bath Fringe Festival takes place 23 May - 8 Jun. - BFF
👻 Forbidden Worlds Film Festival takes place in Bristol 28 May - 1 Jun, including a shorts showcase on 31 May. - FWFF
🏳️🌈 Queer Bath Festival takes place 26 May - 30 Jun. - QB
⛵️ Celtic Media Festival takes place in Newquay Cornwall 3-5 Jun. - CMF
🐋 Festival of Nature in Bath/Bristol takes place 7-15 Jun. - Natural History Consortium
🧠 Royal Anthropological Institute Film Festival takes place in Bristol 16 Jun - 16 Jul. - Headfirst
👩❤️👩 The personals: Nothing this week. Get in touch for a listing.
🍿 On film club: Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) dir. Chuko & Arie Esiri (on Amazon Prime) & Werckmeister Harmonies dir. Béla Tarr (on BFIplayer).
📣 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
💌 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.
