SWIF digest 📬 13 January 2026

👋 Hi filmmakers. I'm interested in your experiences of launching short films online; what worked, what didn't, weird things you tried and things you wish you had. Would love to chat, drop me an email.

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

📸 BTS from recent short film A Grand Day Out in collaboration with Aardman. - Instagram

🎞️ Exmouth Clips Club returns on 21 Jan. An evening dedicated to discussing films, like a book club, but film. You can submit a clip or short film you’ve made. - Instagram

☕ Creative Mornings Bristol is back. Free monthly breakfast talks for the creative community. Kicking off on 22 Jan with speaker Sonia Wargacka. - CM

🪩 Documentary W: A Return to Oz which details the rave scene in 90s Plymouth, is starting a tour of screenings across the region, Jan-Mar. - Danielhbfilm

✍🏾 Exeter Film Collective's next writing group is 26 Jan. - Exeter Phoenix

🌿 A short film night celebrating nature in Bristol takes place on 29 Jan. - Eventbrite

🤝 Relaxed networking, a queer filmmaking Q&A, a comedy set, plus a prize draw all take place on 30 Jan in Bristol to raise funds for a local short film. - Eventbrite

💡 Script Club Cardiff is hosting 'Ideas on Tap' on 12 Feb. A night for Writers to share their ideas, pitch their projects and for creatives of all disciplines to find collaborators. - Eventbrite

🎨 OTR & Arnolfini Bristol are offering a weekly creative space for 18-25yr olds on Thursday afternoons. - OTR

👨🏽‍💻 London Screenwriters Festival are hosting an online pay what you like two day event on 7-8 Mar. - LSF

🎙️ Southampton-made The Honest Filmmaker Podcast's latest episode includes a discussion on what we can learn from the short film's at City Eye's latest showcase. - City Eye

🎇 The Production Guild are offering a free VFX management essentials 2-day training course for unscripted & docs. 7-8 Mar online. - Production Guild

👩‍❤️‍👩 The personals: Experienced Art Department Assistant in Bristol wants to connect with short filmmakers and step up to Standby Art Director. - Instagram Email

🗂️ New year and maybe time to update your details & skills on one of the crew databases? - Screen Alliance Wales & Filming in England

💨 Submissions are open for 'The Hot House' 2026 Writers Development Lab for engaging & commercially viable climate stories for film & TV. Deadline 30 Jan. - Climate Spring

🌏 'Great Migrations' development lab for East and/or Southeast Asian (ESEA) Writers, Writer-Directors & Producers based in the UK has its deadline on 16 Jan. - Milk Tea Films

📚 Scribe Lounge's 'Elevate' TV pilot script competition is now open for submissions until 16 Mar. - SL

🤑 A new film fund has launched in the region. Exeter Phoenix and D&C Film's Emerging Filmmaker Fund is open for Devon and Cornwall based filmmakers. Deadline 11 Feb. - Screen Devon

🏳️‍🌈 Videoclub's callout for film submissions from LGBTQIA+ artists & filmmakers for a Shoreham street exhibition has its deadline on 25 Jan. - Videoclub

📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Carmarthen Bay, Fortean (both 31 Jan), International Film Festival
of Wales (6 Feb), Gloucester Independent (7 Feb), Forbidden Worlds (13 Feb), Cornwall (20 Feb) & Wildscreen (24 Feb). - FilmFreeway

👾 Cardiff Mini Film Festival takes place 18 Jan. - CMFF

🤿 Archeo-Heritage Film presents: Into the Depths 5-8 Feb in Bath. - BAHFF

📷 Two Short Nights Film Festival takes place in Exeter 5-6 Mar. - TSN

👻 Screams By The Sea International Film Festival takes place in Bournemouth 13-14 Mar. - SBTS

🍿 On film club: Persona dir. Ingmar Bergman (on BFIplayer) & Flee dir. Jonas Poher Rasmussen (on Disney+).

📣 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
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.