SWIF digest 📬 10 November 2026

👋 Hello filmmakers. Looking forward to a slow down in December? Me too. Why not fill it with great south west made films from our Letterboxd list. If you know of or made a film that's not on there, let me know!

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Here’s your weekly digest for independent film in the South West:

📸 First post from Catch 33 Films as they share the making of their next feature film Ghostwalk, which follows on from Bath made Wild Swimmers. - Instagram

😧 Nervous when the camera is turned on you to make bts and other content? Camera Shy Club takes place on 17 Nov in Cheltenham. A no pressure place to spend time on your brand, and to learn and experiment with no anxiety. - Eventbrite

👥 Filmmakers Plymouth Social's next meeting is 19 Nov. A regular social event held in cinemas around Plymouth, where filmmakers can workshop ideas, share work and connect. Anyone is welcome! - Eventbrite

🤝 Networking takes place in Exmouth on 20 Nov, hosted by Devon Film Office, Exeter Phoenix and ACED. The night includes a short key note with the team behind, We, The Hated, which opened Sheffiled Doc Festival this year. - Eventbrite

🚶🏿 Join a gentle photographic walk around Bristol’s harbourside hosted by Arnolfini. 20 & 24 Nov. - Headfirst

🌾 Film Bath are hosting a celebration of Ken Loach’s 90th birthday with a screening of The Wind That Shakes the Barley, followed by a conversation with Ken Loach & Cillian Murphy. 3 Dec in Bath. - FilmBath

🎄 SWIF festive drinks takes place in Bristol on 14 Dec. Meet fellow filmmakers and celebrate the year together. - SWIF

🎉 Powerhouse Talent Management is celebrating its first birthday! The Bristol-based talent agency has a strong roster of 20 creatives, many of them based in the SW. The founder is keen to connect with crew, influencers, presenters & activists. - Powerhouse Talent Management

🛖 The Bothy, a psychological horror feature film from new Bristol based production company Trail 3 Films, is currently crowdfunding. Producer Sarah Dawes is offering free one to one online chats to pick her brains about filmmaking. - Crowdfunder

🪶 Somerset based feature film Little Magpie is crowdfunding. Blending crime and subtle thriller, this film centres on the human need for closure. You can watch the proof of concept teaser on kickstarter. - Kickstarter

✅ Exeter Phoenix are running a survey for audiences and those who engage with their work. As a major supporter of short filmmakers in the region, go and give them some praise. - Google Docs

🧑🏽‍🎓 Beginner filmmakers wanted! Get free access to ‘How To Get Started In Filmmaking’, a new online course (normally £199) from Angus Mawby. 4+hrs of essential lessons, in return for testing/feedback. Limited spaces available - Google Form

🧮 Apply to the Production Guild & Screenskills' production accountant essentials in high-end TV & film training by 18 Nov for the online course and by 13 Jan for the Bristol course. - Production Guild

💚 The Film & TV Charity and ITV’s 'Green Room' mentorship programme for freelancers with 5+ years experience, returns this year with a cohort meeting in Cardiff (but it's not just for those living there). Deadline 24 Nov. - ITV

👩🏽‍🔧 BBC have opened up applications for their apprenticeships in Bristol & Cardiff across departments such as scripted production and natural history. Deadline 24 Nov. - BBC

🫣 Director of Photography needed for a horror short film in Bristol with some experimental elements. Deadline 4 Dec. - Tabb

🗂️ Researchers needed in Cardiff. Deadline 15 Nov. - Production Base

🎞️ Whisper TV are hiring a Trainee Edit Assistant and a Trainee Production Coordinator. Deadlines 15 Nov. - Screen Alliance Wales

🏺 Junior Director needed on Bargain Hunt for BBC Studios Cardiff. Deadline 16 Nov. - Talent Manager

🕵️‍♀️ Research Coordinator needed at Pervasive Media Studio at Watershed Bristol. Deadline 20 Nov. - Watershed

🎭 BAFTA Cymru need a Programmes & Events Officer in Cardiff. Deadline 22 Nov. - BAFTA

🍄 Creative Marketing Exec needed at Bristol Fungarium. Lots of video content creation in this role. No advertised deadline. - Linktree

✍️ Tomorrow (11 Nov) is the deadline to apply for BFI Network's early development fund for feature film treatments. - BFI

📤 BFI's early development fund for feature film treatments closes tomorrow (11 Nov). - BFI

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Feature film projects with a Welsh Writer, Producer or Director can apply for development funding from Ffilm Cymru. Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Open to live action, animation and documentary. - Ffilm Cymru

🌏 The Planet Health Film Fund, supporting original short documentaries exploring deep, personal connections between human health and the health of our environment, has its application deadline on 16 Nov. - PHFF

🧧 FILMD's £1k short film grant is open for submissions. Deadline 20 Nov. - FILMD

💃🏻 Sadler’s Wells has launched three short film commissions, open to filmmakers and dance artists working at the intersection of dance and moving image. Deadline 22 Nov. - Sadler's Wells

📧 Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is accepting short film script submissions for its BA and MFA acting graduation projects. Deadline 15 Jan. - BBC

📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: No Reason Short (22 Nov), Forbidden Worlds (30 Nov), Bristol Documentary (18 Dec), Encounters (21 Dec), Carmarthen Bay (23 Dec) & Pigeon Laughs (9 Dec). - FilmFreeway

😎 Southampton Film Week takes place 13-22 Nov. - SFW

🚜 Harvest Film Festival with a theme of 'Apocalyptic Visions' takes place on 14 Nov near Chard. - HFF

☠️ Pompeywood Film Festival takes place 14 Nov in Portsmouth. - PWFF

🌊 Cornwall Film Festival takes place 16-22 Nov in Falmouth. - CFF

🌍 Afrika Eye Film Festival takes place 17-22 Nov in Bristol . - AEFF

🇵🇸 Bristol Palestine Film Festival takes place 25 Nov - 6 Dec. - BPFF

🍿 On film club: Mona Lisa dir. Neil Jordan (on BFIplayer) & For Sama dir. Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts (on Channel4)

📣 Have something to share on the next digest? Could be an event, workshop, behind the scenes updates, crew call, showcasing your work or a personal ad. Get in touch! hollyholdsworth@gmail.com

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Until next week!
Holly Holdsworth (she/her)
Writer/Director
watch my films

Inclusion in this email does not denote endorsement. I will always try to platform the best opportunities for this community and am not affiliated with any organisation, unless explicitly mentioned besides the link.