SWIF digest 📬 16 December 2025

👋 Hi filmmakers. Thanks to everyone who came out for festive drinks. This is the last proper digest of the year, which means it's almost time to celebrate ourselves. Each year I gather sentences from you of what you're proud of. That becomes:

🎉 SWIF Recap 🎊

It could be big or small; completing a project, learning a new skill, believing in yourself more, networking even when it was scary... anything you want to celebrate.

Email hollyholdsworth@gmail.com:
❤️ a sentence of what you're proud of
👨🏽‍🏫 your role (Composer, Writer-Director, Educator etc)
⚡️ a link for people to follow what you're up to in 2026

🥰 Please consider supporting this resource for the filmmaking community. You can now 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:

📸 Cast & creatives from Script Club Cardiff's recent new writing night. - Instagram

📝 A beginner-friendly creative writing workshop, focused on generating ideas and overcoming writer's block, will take place on 15 Jan in Bristol. This event will raise funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians. - Headfirst

🦅 FilmBath will screen H is for Hawk with a Director & Author Q&A on 17 Jan. - FilmBath

🤔 WorkTakes is asking workers, company executives & sector stakeholders: what would make working in UK film and TV production better, more productive, sustainable, enjoyable. Take part in their polls & quizzes. - Work Takes

🚚 BFI are looking for delivery partners for their funds; sustainable screen fund, production support services fund & exhibition and distribution skills fund. Deadlines Jan-Mar. - BFI

📑 Wales based Production Assistants/Co-ordinators/Secretaries! ScreenSkills is offering a free course on managing post-production paperwork. Apply by 17 Dec. - ScreenSkills

🎾 ScreenSkills are offering free, three-month career coaching for those working at all levels in unscripted TV. Apply by 12 Jan. - ScreenSkills

🏃🏿‍♀️ Last couple of weeks to catch up on ScreenSkills' explainer webinar on how to start your career in high-end TV in the South West and how to get a one week paid placement. - ScreenSkills

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales based Producer willing to travel needed for Married at First Sight. No application deadline so act fast. - Screen Alliance Wales

🚌 BBC are hiring apprentices in creative marketing, drama & entertainment. Deadlines 11 Jan. - BBC

🐶 Aardman need a 3rd Assistant Director. Could be a Runner stepping up role. Deadline 18 Dec. - Aardman

😹 The Laughing Matters Fellowship for comedy Writer & Producer duos to develop a project connected to the climate, is open for applications until 9 Jan. - Zealous

📖 Script Club Cardiff are looking for scripts for their scratch night in Apr. Submit by 7 Feb. - Instagram

👩‍❤️‍👩 The personals: Nothing this week. Get in touch for a free listing.

📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Carmarthen Bay (23 Dec), Watch Africa, Encounters (both 31 Dec), Gloucester Independent (3 Jan), Women in Film & TV Cardiff (8 Jan) & Fortean (31 Jan). - FilmFreeway & WFTV

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

🍿 On film club: Eve’s Bayou dir. Kasi Lemmons (rent on BFIplayer) & Three Poplars on Plyuschikha Street dir. Tatyana Lioznova (stream on Tubi & Amazon Prime).

📣 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.