SWIF digest 📬 17 March 2026

👋 Hey filmmakers! I managed to give myself heatstroke yesterday (beware a dehydrated sauna session). So this is all I was able to pull together in between 🥵🥶🤮. Hadn't been listening to my body last week in favour of pursuing the creative stuff. Lessons learned.

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

🧛‍♀️ Create Studios are screening Bath made feature film Wild Swimmers, with a Director Q&A. A great opportunity to see a feature made on a small budget, and network with other creatives. 18 Mar in Swindon. - Create

☕️ CreativeMornings in Bristol takes place 19 Mar and has a theme of local connections. This is a free monthly gathering for the creative community - short talk, coffee, pastries and good people. - Creative Mornings

🗣️ Slow down & reconnect at 'Unplugged series pt3' in Plymouth on 21 Mar. An evening of short films, food and deeper conversation. - Eventbrite

🍰 Join Creative Cardiff for creative cuppa on 25 Mar. Each event begins with a TED-style talk, followed by an informal hour to build relationships, share knowledge, and uncover new opportunities. - Creative Cardiff

🌃 Watch a screening and director's Q&A of feature debut Surviving Earth on 9 Apr in Bristol, where it was filmed! - Watershed

🎭 Script Club Cardiff is collaborating with _andfriends for a night of new writing on 19 Apr. - Ticket Source

😊 Catch 'Arts Cinema: The Poetry Film Edition' in Plymouth on 19 Apr. A night of poetry cinema, featuring readings from the filmmakers and a Q+A. - Eventbrite

🪕 Documentary feature The Banjo Boys will be on tour across the south west in April with FES Film Festival. And on 23 Apr will be screened with a Q&A in Bristol. - FES

😱 Watch Terror Arcade's recent short horror film Outside Noise online now. - YouTube

🤠 Applications are open for CRIW, a 12 month apprenticeship programme for those who are keen to work behind-the-scenes on major film and TV productions. Deadline 13 Apr. - CRIW

🏃‍♂️ Runners needed in Bristol. Deadline 18 Mar. - Production Base

✂️ Edit Assistant needed for an animation project in Bristol. Deadline 27 Mar. - FSTVS

📹 Videographer & Editor needed in Cardiff. Deadline 10 Apr. - Creative Cardiff

🙋🏿 Blue Metaphor are seeking submissions for workshop leaders & panelists on a range of creative and industry topics for upcoming events. - Google form

🎞️ Freelance Editor needed in Bristol to work across audio and video projects — from long-form podcasts to short-form social content. - Bristol Creative Industries

👩🏽‍💼 Encounters Film Festival are looking for new Board Members. - Encounters

🙌 Bristol based filmmakers are needed as Industry Mentors for a student film competition from the University of Bristol. - Office Forms

⏳ BFI Network's short film fund deadline is tomorrow (18 Mar). - BFI

🤑 Last few days to apply for Exeter Phoenix's short film funds for both fiction and documentary. Deadlines 22 Mar. Exeter Phoenix

💰 Applications are open for Somerset Film's young person's short film fund for those under 25 years. Deadline 12 June. - Somerset Film

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

📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Cardiff Mini (17 Mar), Cornwall (20 Mar), Gloucester Independent (21 Mar), Iris Prize LGBTQ+ (31 Mar), Bournemouth International (1 Apr), Pompeywood Genre (3 Apr), Elevation (12 Apr), Wildscreen (16 Apr), Queer Vision (18 Apr) & Bristol Documentary (30 Apr). - FilmFreeway

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 WOW Wales One World Film Festival returns 20–28 Mar for its 25th edition. - WOW

🍿 On film club: Operation Hyacinth dir. Piotr Domalewski (on Netflix) & Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery dir. Ally Pankiw (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

💌 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.