SWIF digest 📬 12 May 2026
Screenings, Q&As and events abound across the region in this week's digest...
👋 Hey filmmakers! Thank you for all your wonderful comments and support on the release of my short film Fathom. The film festival journey always gives a director an ego beating, but recently it's been joyous to share your responses with the cast & crew.
🌊 If you've not seen the film (don't skip the opening sound design!) you can watch it here.
😎 If you want to go deeper with our behind-the-scenes videos, including a script vs final film side by side, you can watch those here.
🥰 Please consider supporting this resource. You can give a one-off amount, or take an on-going membership if you want access to the filmmaker resources.
Here’s your weekly digest for independent film in the South West:
📸 Send me your behind the scenes photos! It's been hard to find any this week. - Email Holly or tag southwestindependentfilm on Instagram.
🏳️🌈 Watch a screening of documentary The Bits and Bobs of a Lesbian Look on 13 May in Bristol. - Instagram
🇿🇼 A screening of documentary Mbira Music Spirit of the People takes place in Bristol on 14 May. Followed by a talk from an ethnomusicologist & mbira specialist, performing live music and offering insights. - Headfirst
🎵 Join the waitlist for BFI Network SW's online masterclass with Thea Gajic, writer-director of Surviving Earth. 14 May. Eventbrite
🧵 If you work in the Art, Costume or Hair & Make-Up departments in Wales, get yourself to Screen Craft Guild Cymru's launch event in Cardiff on 19 May. - SCGC
🏋️♀️ Watch a screening of the BBC Scotland documentary Women's Work, followed by a Q&A with the contributors on 23 May in Penzance. - Eventbrite
🤠 Try out a new idea in front of an audience at the little scratch night at Exeter Phoenix on 27 May. - Exeter Phoenix
📽️ Women in Film & TV’s short film club comes to Penryn on 28 May. Free tickets and non-members welcome. - WFTV
🎭 Apply to bring new work to Bristol Old Vic's scratch night on 18 Jun. Submissions close 1 Jun. - BOV
🎤 Script Club Cardiff are hosting a Q&A with Writer, Composer & Comedian Leila Navabi on writing for the BBC and advice on building a creative career in Cardiff. 19 Jun. - Eventbrite
🍻 There's networking for freelance creatives on 23 Jun in Bristol. - Eventbrite
🤕 The Film & TV Charity's annual survey is live. It takes around 10 minutes, is completely anonymous and is the only UK study tracking mental health in the screen sector over time. - F&TVC
🤔 If you've ever applied to a lab and wondered what it's like to get in, a local screenwriter has shared her journey getting on the Women in Film & TV Screenwriters' Lab. - Helen Thompson
🌃 Have your say on Bristol's culture strategy 2027-2037 by taking the council's survey. - Bristol City Council
🕵 A free two hour workshop on screenwriting & adaptation takes place in Bristol on 20 May, with a focus on Agatha Christie's work. Spaces limited, email for tickets. - Email
🪞 Take a two day weekend course on 'improvising Black Mirror & sci-fi' in Bristol 30-31 May. - Bristol Improv Theatre
🎇 Spaces available on the free online 'VFX Management Essentials for Unscripted HETV & Docs' courses on 6-7 Jun & 18-19 Jun. - Screenskills
🌅 Contact Darkroom in Totnes are hosting talks & workshops on 27-28 Jun, with a focus on pinhole and solarigraphy. - Contact
🎞️ Editor needed at Blanket creative agency in Bristol. - Bristol Creative Industries
🕺 Casting call for males & females aged 18-26 years for a short film shooting in Jun. - Instagram
🙋🏽♂️ BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol are hiring a Team Assistant. Deadline 15 May. - BBC
🧑💼 The Fold are hiring a remote working Junior Development Executive. Deadline 17 May. - The Fold
🤓 Two Short Nights Film Festival are looking for Pre-selectors. Deadline 1 Jul. - Exeter Phoenix
🧑🎨 Senior Art Director needed Mr B & Friends creative agency in Bristol. - Bristol Creative Industries
💬 Park Circus & Cinema Rediscovered are inviting pitches of a 4 - 5 repertory film season idea curated from their catalogue. Deadline 25 May. - AirTable
👩❤️👩 The personals: Nothing this week. Get in touch for a personal listing.
📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Wildscreen (13 May), Cardiff Mini (15 May), ANiMiNSPO Mini (19 May), Pompeywood Genre Film Festival (21 May), Cornwall Film Festival (22 May), Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival (24 May) & Two Short Nights Film Festival (31 May). - FilmFreeway
🤘 Doc’n Roll Film Festival takes place in Cardiff on 12-17 May. - Chapter
🟠 Carmarthen Bay Film Festival takes place on 18-21 May. - CBFF
🌍 Watch Africa Film Festival takes place in Cardiff on 11-13 Jun. - WAFF
🏳️🌈 Queer Bath Film Festival takes place on 13 Jun. - QBFF
⚡️ Electric Film Festival takes place in Poole on 20 Jun. - EFF
🏳️⚧️ Queer Vision Film Festival takes place in Bristol on 26 Jun - 10 Jul. - QVFF
🍿 On film club: Totally F***ed Up dir. Gregg Araki (on Mubi) & STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie dir. Davis Guggenheim (on AppleTV).
📣 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
💌 If you found this helpful please forward it to a friend.
Until next week!
Holly Holdsworth (she/her)
Writer/Director
where I am on the net
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..
