What is Connect & Collab?

The event is open to UK based producers and writers and directors based in the South West, South East or Midlands. It is the perfect place for writers and directors with exciting short film ideas to find a producer to develop the project and build a relationship with, as well as an opportunity for producers to expand their slate and identify the strong new ideas that creatively stand out. 

The event will be hosted via Deal Room, an online meeting platform that will allow you to create a profile and book in 1:1 video call meetings with other participants between 9.15am – 8pm GMT on Thursday 12 August. It is a space to network and explore potential new collaborations with the intention of forming filmmakers teams in order to apply to the BFI NETWORK Short Film Funding, which opens again on Friday 20 August.

Who can apply?

UK based producers from all creative disciplines with aspirations to produce short films; who are looking to take on new projects to expand their slate.

Writers and directors from South West, South East and Midlands of England as defined by the BFI (BFI UK nations and regions map) who are actively working on a short film project that would be eligible to the BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund (download the guidelines here) and have not been funded by BFI NETWORK previously. 

You must be aged 18+ and not in full time education.

As space is limited, there is a selection process before your attendance is confirmed.

Due to spaces being limited we will take into consideration as part of the assessment process if you applied and were accepted for our last event on Thursday 11 March 2021. If you were, then you will only be eligible to re-apply for this upcoming event in August with a new short film project idea, not the idea you used when you applied previously. 

Accessibility

We are committed to accessibility and we will do everything we can to remove possible barriers to attendance so please let us know how we can make the experience as useful and comfortable as possible via the application form. 

If you would like the application form in another format then please email us on bfinetwork@watershed.co.uk.

Timeline

• Thursday 24 June: Applications open
• Thursday 15 July: Applications close (11.59pm)
• Thursday 29 July: Applicants notified & Deal Room login link sent
• Tuesday 10 August: Deadline for participants to book 1:1 slots
• Thursday 12 August: Event date 9.15am – 8pm

Applications

Writer and/or Director application

Producer application