Guides & Resources for Filmmakers

‘If climate is not in your story, then it’s science fiction’ – Screenwriter and producer Dorothy Fortenberry.

Find out more at this online discussion and hear from experienced producer – and BFI NETWORK South West’s Project Coordinator – Anna Duff, who ran through an example budget and offered practical tips and pointers.

The BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund opens for applications this March. Join us for a discussion and Q&A with a special guest.

In 2022 we commissioned one of our funded teams to create a case study on their short film Spines.

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.

An online session, led by producer Anna Duff, to help you navigate gaps in your short film budget.

In summer 2024 we ran an Animation Producer Lab to support entry-level animation producers from across the south west of England. This new lab was made possible by the Screenskills Animation Skills Fund.

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.

BFI NETWORK South West interviewed Performing Rights Society (PRS) representatives David Newton and Kerryn Hill to help demystify the process of licensing music for film.

This toolkit, the first of its kind, is an easy to use, comprehensive, digital guide with insights from over 40 filmmakers, funders, festival programmers and distributors, unlocking vital insights and advice for aspiring talent to help them get the most out of their short film journey and accelerate their careers.

BFI NETWORK South West caught up with Angela Penhaligon, a freelance music supervisor – and an artist in her own right – to discuss her role and shed some light on rights, composers and keeping an open mind when it comes to music in film.

Find an almost-exhaustive list of links and information on several filmmaking categories on the Independent Cinema Offices’ website, which has been compiled by BFI NETWORK Talent Executives.

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.

Principles and guidance for tackling and preventing bullying and harassment in the screen industries commissioned by the BFI and supported by organisations across the UK.

BFI NETWORK’s Short Film Fund is re-opening in March and it supports live-action, animation and immersive projects. In anticipation of this, we hosted a free online session tailored specifically towards those interested in developing immersive or VR-based short works of up to 15-minutes in length.

Our collaboration with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School allowed the writer-directors a chance to workshop their scripts with acting MA students. We sat down with Jess Wheeler, BFI NETWORK Talent Exec, and Em Smith, Head of Screen MA, to chat about the partnership and what it brought to New Voices. 

BFI NETWORK South West Talent Executive Nadia Attia offers some pointers on applying to the BFI NETWORK Early Development Fund.