Making Films
We’re here to nurture the South West’s new wave of filmmaking talent and to support writers, directors and producers who have original stories to tell and inspired approaches to their craft.
We can support your projects by contributing to production costs on short films, or by supporting the development of a feature film treatment document. Funded projects will also benefit from creative and professional guidance provided by our Bristol-based BFI NETWORK Talent Executives Nadia Attia and Jess Wheeler. There are also many ways we support talent who are not yet ready to apply for BFI funding – find out more below…
Early Development Fund
APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED!
The BFI NETWORK Early Development Fund supports the early stages of development for debut long-form projects.
Queer Storytelling Workshop
APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED!
We’re running a storytelling workshop for up to 12 writers who identify as LGBTQIA+, led by award-winning filmmaker and writer Jason Barker.
Short Film Catalogue & Trailer
Check out our PDF catalogue of funded projects, and our trailer showcasing just a few of the projects we’ve backed over recent years.
Funded Projects
Explore the slate of projects that BFI NETWORK has funded to-date in the South West.
*Please note these pages are currently being updated
New Voices 2023 Cohort
BFI NETWORK South West, in partnership with Blak Wave Productions, Little By Little Films and Grey Moth, are pleased to present our participants for New Voices 2023. New Voices is a three-month talent development scheme for underrepresented writer-directors in the south west of England.
Producer Lab 2023 Cohort
BFI NETWORK South West, in partnership with Bristol Screen Producers, are pleased to present our participants for our Producer Lab. The 10 participants will attend two days of masterclasses, case studies and practical activities at Exeter Phoenix and over Zoom.
Short Film Fund
APPLICATIONS CLOSED
The Short Film Fund from BFI NETWORK supports projects with directors based in England. Funding is available to support the production costs of fiction films in live action, animation or immersive, up to a maximum run time of 15 minutes.
New Voices
APPLICATIONS CLOSED
BFI NETWORK teamed up with South West based production companies Blak Wave & Little By Little Films, as well as Grey Moth, to run a talent development opportunity for aspiring South West based filmmakers looking to develop a five-minute short film idea.
Producer Lab 2023
APPLICATIONS CLOSED
Our Producer Lab weekender will take place on Sat 23rd and Sun 24th Sep and is open to aspiring, early-career producers based in the south west of England. The lab is aimed at emerging producing talent who are interested in developing their skills as creative producers and applying to future rounds of the BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund.
Further support for writers, directors and producers…
- Read our Filmmakers’ FAQs page
- Read the handy BFI FAQs regarding funding
- We regularly share industry opportunities and events through X (Twitter), our South West Talent Connect Facebook Group, and our monthly(ish) Newsletter
Shorts2Features
APPLICATIONS CLOSED
Shorts2Features is a six-month training scheme, new in 2022, for producers and directors who have a strong track record in screen-based content and are looking to make the challenging next step into long-form projects. Delivered by BFI NETWORK in collaboration with Encounters Film Festival, Bristol UNESCO City of Film and NFTS Cymru Wales.
Past Lab Participants
Introducing the South West Creatives who have taken part in our Script, Production, Directing, and Animation Labs. Each participant was selected from a high volume of applications on the basis of their potential talent as a film producer, desire to collaborate and passion for inclusion.
Further information
Book a 1:1 Meeting with our Talent Executives
Find out more about booking a 1:1 meeting with our South West Talent Executives, Nadia Attia and Jess Wheeler.
Guides & Resources
Get guidance - from developing young audiences to hosting dementia friendly screenings
Beyond Boundaries Success Stories
Success stories from Beyond Boundaries, our rolling fund to support South West based individuals make their ideas reality
Filmmaker FAQs | BFI NETWORK South West
Frequently asked questions on BFI NETWORK funding, applications and general advice.
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More from Film Hub South West
A Rough Guide to Animation Production
We’ve created a handy guide for anyone thinking about making an animated short – this PDF includes information on budgeting, workflows and ways into animation, as well as a glossary of terms and plenty of useful links.
Selling Your Idea: What Makes a Great Funding Application?
BFI NETWORK South West Talent Executive Nadia Attia has read countless scripts for Channel 4, BBC, BFI, Studiocanal and more, and as an ex-filmmaker herself she’s been on the flipside of applying for funding. She took some time out to share her learnings with you, to help your application stand out and prepare you for the next round of funding.
How To Make Your Film Shoot More Sustainable
This guide takes you through some useful information that considers how to minimise the environmental impact of your activity, no matter the size of your shoot.
Guides & Resources for Filmmakers
Guidance for filmmaking talent from planning to shooting and more
Watershed is the Lead Film Hub Organisation for Film Hub South West, part of the BFI Film Audience Network.
Watershed is a Registered Charity No. 284188 and a Social Enterprise
Watershed, 1 Canons Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5TX
Film Hub South West &
BFI NETWORK South West
are part of the BFI Film Audience Network, supported by The National Lottery.
