SWIF digest 📬 18 November 2025
Seems everyone's hiring this week...
👋 Hi filmmakers. I'm looking forward to finally bringing my short drama film Fathom to a screening in Bristol. 26 Nov at Cube Cinema as part of Bluescreen short film night. "Festival circuits" are a real rollercoaster and bringing this film home will be a treat. See you there!
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Here’s your weekly digest for independent film in the South West:
📸 BTS from a recent shoot for Swindon Welcomes Ukraine. - Instagram
🔋 Cornwall Film Festival's industry day takes place 20 Nov in Falmouth. It includes mixers, funding advice, shorts to features advice & shorts screenings. - CFF
📽️ ANIMINSPO, a regular screening & meet up of local Animators, next takes place on 28 Nov in Bristol. - Headfirst
🇵🇸 Join a joyful afternoon of Palestinian culture for all ages on 30 Nov in Bristol, featuring a short films screening and dance perfect for families. - Headfirst
😴 Watch a screening & Director Q&A of debut feature Dreamers on 3 Dec in Bristol. - Watershed
☕️ BFI Network South West's last online coffee morning for the year is 9 Dec. A safe and informal space (on Zoom) to meet and chat about your creative practice. - Eventbrite
🎻 Watch Battleship Potemkin with a live orchestra of original music on 13 Dec in Plymouth, with an opening performance by The Ukrainian Singers of Plymouth. - TicketTailor
⏳ DVMISSION's 48 hr film challenge takes place in Portsmouth 27 Feb - 1 Mar and opens for registrations this week. Deadline to register a team is 30 Jan. - FilmFreeway
💄 Check out this recent music video/promo ad film from Bristol based filmmakers. Warning contains flashing lights. - YouTube
😻 I recently came across a discord called the British Animation Scene; for those working, studying or interested in animation in the UK to share work, find gigs and get to know others in the industry. - British Animation Scene
🎉 Bristol Creative Industries want to hear from the unscripted TV community and the success stories & smart approaches keeping it thriving. - Rachel Keenan
🙌🏾 The Elouise Carden Rising Star in Post Production Bursary recognises & supports early-career women working in post production. Nominations are open. Don't be shy, ask someone to nominate you! - WFTV
🎊 The TV Foundation's New Voice Awards are open for submissions. If you had a year of breakthrough success, or have made the industry more accessible by bringing new perspectives to the screen, then apply. - TV Foundation
👩❤️👩 The personals: If you're a Producer of narrative shorts, I'd love to know your work. Drop me an email. - Holly Holdsworth
🏃🏿♀️ Twenty Twenty TV Bristol need Production Secretaries/Coordinators for a factual entertainment series. Deadline 19 Nov. - Talent Manager
🗂️ Production Management Assistant needed in Bristol for an investigative art history programme. Deadline 19 Nov. - Talent Manager
👀 Vision Engineer needed at Boom Cymru. Deadline 21 Nov. - Screen Skills
📺 Operations Coordinator needed at BBC Wales. Deadline 24 Nov. - BBC
🏚️ Researcher/AP in Bristol needed for a Channel 4 documentary. Local knowledge to help with access to people affected by the housing crisis is ideal. Deadline 1 Dec. - Talent Manager
🪄 VFX Coordinator needed at Aardman. Deadline 3 Dec. - Aardman
😨 Casting call for a mental health awareness short film in Gloucestershire; telling the story of a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Multiple roles across ages. - Mandy
✂️ Editors, Post Producers & Colourists needed for two short films. - Tabb
📚 Scribe Lounge will be running two script competitions in 2026, with winners introduced to industry professionals. TV drama submissions open 16 Jan and comedy will open later in 2026. - Scribe Lounge
🇳🇱 The British Council are offering two emerging Producers and a Writer or Writer/Director the opportunity to attend the Rotterdam Lab in Jan/Feb 2026. Apply by 20 Nov. - BC
🙋🏽♂️ Grand Plan are offering £1k grants to people of colour looking to make a leap with their creative practice. Early deadline to apply is 4 Dec. - Grand Plan
📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Gloucester Independent (22 Nov), No Reason (23 Nov), Watch Africa, Forbidden Worlds (both 30 Nov), Screams by the Sea (15 Dec), Carmarthen Bay (23 Dec) & Encounters (31 Dec). - FilmFreeway
🌊 Cornwall Film Festival takes place 11-30 Nov in Falmouth. - Mor Media
🚢 Southampton Film Week takes place 14-23 Nov. - SFW
🧏 Deaf Gathering Cymru takes place 21-23 Nov in Cardiff, including a shorts screening on 21 Nov. - Chapter
🇵🇸 Bristol Palestine Film Festival takes place 28 Nov - 7 Dec. - BPFF
⚡️ No Reason Short Film Festival takes place 29 Nov in Bristol. - NRSFF
👾 Cardiff Mini Film Festival takes place 18 Jan. - CMFF
🍿 On film club: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse dir. Peter Ramsey (on Netflix) & Portrait of a Lady on Fire dir. Céline Sciamma (on ITVx & BFIplayer)
📣 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.
