BFI NETWORK South West, in partnership with Screen Cornwall and Exeter Phoenix, are pleased to announce a new one-month Producer Lab.  

This lab will support six producers based in the south west of England who have experience in producing short films (live action, documentary, or animation), or in producing documentaries, commercials, corporate films, or promotional content. It is also open to those with a background as a TV production manager or coordinator. Participants should be aiming to transition into producing financed, scripted projects and to develop a slate of short films through their own production company.  

Across online sessions and one in-person day, we’ll offer practical guidance and insights – including soft skills – that participants can later apply to larger budgets and long-form projects.   

The lab responds to our observation of the need to prepare producers for scripted projects with tighter budgets, schedules and deliverables, and help ready them to apply to the BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund (or other public funds). 

Please ensure you check the eligibility guidelines (below), and don’t forget to check out our guide Top seven tips for applying to BFI NETWORK South West Labs & Programmes before applying. 

Lead image: Bare Roots, dir. Ellen McDougall (BTS)

Aims of this lab: 

• To strengthen producer networks across the region so that these roles aren’t in isolation  

• To support producers moving into scripted filmmaking 

• To support underrepresented producers in the region, with a focus on producers who are Black and Global Majority and/or from a working-class background 

• To support producers with an ambition to amplify underrepresented voices 

• To demystify funding, encourage an in-depth understanding of the role and how to develop sustainable producing careers 

• To demystify financiers, their priorities and how you might approach them 

• To make room for innovation and experimentation (this goes for producers as much as writers and directors!), and encourage producers to find their voice and explore their tastes 

• To explore creative approaches to distribution and audience engagement 

• To discuss wellbeing strategies and other support for producers
   

Eligibility: 

• You must be over 18 and not in full-time education when the lab starts  

• You must be based in the South West of England 

• This Lab is for producers with their own production company, or the ambition to start one 

• You must have produced at least one short film (as co-producer or lead producer) that has been selected for a BAFTA/BIFA-qualifying festival, OR have significant production experience in commercials/corporate films/promos, TV or documentaries 

• You must not already have a producer credit on a feature film or TV show that has had public distribution (including on major streaming platforms) 

• Whilst we encourage producers who have previously been supported through a BFI NETWORK or partner lab (eg Peninsula Producer’s Network) we will prioritise producers who don’t currently have a live project with BFI NETWORK 

Timeline 

Applications open: Tue 21 July  

Applications close: Tue 25 Aug   

Cohort confirmed: w/c 7th Sept  

Online welcome session: w/c 14th Sept  

In-person day at Encounters Film Festival: Fri 25 Sep in Bristol (reasonable travel expenses for those outside of Bristol will be covered)  

Online session: early Oct