At BFI NETWORK in the south west we want to champion the future stars of filmmaking, and we recognise that making the leap from shorts to long-form projects can be daunting and difficult to navigate, particularly for those based in regions where connection to the industry is limited. 

That’s why we’re pleased to announce Beyond Shorts, a career-development programme designed to elevate south west-based producers and directors who have a strong track record in screen-based work and are ready to take the next step into making features or high-end TV. 

Previous participants of the scheme (formerly known as ‘Shorts2Features’) have gone on to win a BAFTA and Oscar, secured agent representation, made valuable connections in the industry, have features in development with major UK funders and have been accepted onto prestigious post-graduate film courses. 

Interested? Please read this page in full before making your application to Beyond Shorts. We will soon have an audio read-out available for this page.  

What is Beyond Shorts?  

Our five-month programme – in partnership with NFTS Cymru Wales, and with support from The Bottle Yard Studios – will run from May to late Sep 2025, and will see up to four directors and four producers benefit from specialised NFTS training, online masterclasses, mentoring with industry professionals, BFI London Film Festival digital passes, a tour of Bottle Yard Studios, and access to industry experts such as producers, agents and commissioners.

Who can apply for Beyond Shorts?  

Eligible applicants must: 

• Be permanently living at an address in the south west*. 

• Be over the age of 18. 

• Not be in full-time education. 

• Be a director or producer of short fiction films or narrative-driven XR/immersive projects. 

• Not have written, produced or directed a feature film that has received UK distribution ((this includes via streamers and established online channels).

• Be committed to improving diversity both in front of and behind the camera. 

• Be available in-person for a full day on Thu 8^th May, which marks the start of the scheme. 

• Have produced or directed a significant body of work and be looking to make the step to their first feature or long-form commission. By ‘significant body of work’ we mean a creative track record of multiple works in short film or narrative-driven XR/immersive projects that have garnered industry recognition by way of funding or commissions, awards and festival selection, critical praise or a substantial online audience.  

We want to ensure that all time taken by producers and directors on their application is time well spent, so please only apply if you have a significant body of work behind you, consisting of multiple pieces; demonstrating that you’re ready to move beyond short-form work. 

*Our region covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, West of England, Hampshire, The Isle of Wight and The Isles of Scilly.  See region map for details. 

How do I apply for Beyond Shorts?  

Applications open on Mon 17 Feb. Please fill in the online application form when we make it live on this page.  

Note that you can link to brief video answers within the application form if you’d prefer. If you would like to apply in a different format, or if you require support in making your application, please contact us at bfinetwork@watershed.co.uk 

Applications close on Mon 24 March at 17:00. Note that we won’t be able to accept any applications beyond this time. 

What happens next? 

You will receive the outcome of your application by email on or before Wed 9 April. Please note that as we’re a small team we’re not able to give feedback on your application if unsuccessful. 

Interviews will take place online on Tues 15^th and Weds 16^th April. Please ensure you are available on these dates. 

We aim to notify successful applicants by Tues 22nd April. 

What to expect if you’re accepted onto Beyond Shorts 

Participants will be expected to attend the kick-off day at Watershed, Bristol on Thu 8 May, which will involve discussions, lunch, your first NFTS masterclass and a chance for the cohort to meet. 

Then from June you will have a 2hr online session each month (June, July, Aug and Sep), tailored to your craft area. There may be some prep needed outside of these masterclasses, such as reading materials or viewing content. You will be given plenty of notice about when this needs to be completed, and we will provide a detailed schedule at the start of the scheme. Where possible, we will schedule these online masterclasses first thing or last thing in the day so that you can fit these in with your other work/life commitments.  

You will also benefit from three one-hour mentoring sessions with an industry professional, arranged at times to suit the both of you. Past mentors have included writer-directors Henry Blake, Jim Archer and Georgia Oakley, and producers Yaw Basoah, Kate Byers and Cassandra Sigsgaard.  

We will also arrange for a tour of The Bottle Yard Studios in Bristol, which will take place over one afternoon, in person.  

The scheme will close with another in-person event in late Sep, in Bristol, during Encounters Film Festival. 

We will cover your reasonable travel costs for all in-person events. You will not be expected to have any overnight stays. 

Any other questions?

If you’re unsure about the level of commitment expected from the scheme, or if have any further questions, we’ve scheduled an online Q&A session on Tue 4 March 6:00-6:45pm. Please register for this free Q&A on Eventbrite here xxxxx.  

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