SWIF digest 📬 2 December 2025

👋 Hi filmmakers. I'm debating hosting a free reflection & goal setting session online for SWIF subscribers in early January. If that's something you might be interested in, drop me an email. hollyholdsworth@gmail.com

🥰 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:

📸 BTS from recent short film Why You Shouldn't Date in Bristol. - Instagram

🍻 Shooters in the Pub's next social is 3 Dec at Exeter Phoenix. An informal, friendly get together for anyone involved in or interested in film. - Facebook

🤝 We Animate on Tues' next meet up for Animators takes place 9 Dec at Exeter Phoenix. - Animating Devon

🍾 Cardiff-based crew & creatives are invited to Christmas drinks on 10 Dec at the Cardiff Stable. - LinkedIn

🎅 Filmmakers Plymouth Social's Christmas meet up is 11 Dec. - Eventbrite

📽️ Somerset Film are hosting a short film night on 11 Dec in Bridgwater. - Somerset Film

🎄 The SWIF festive drinks x my birthday is confirmed for 15 Dec at Lefthanded Giant Brewpub Bristol. - SWIF

⏰ The 2026 DVMISSION 48 Hour Film Challenge will take place 27 Feb - 1 Mar. Team registration deadline is 30 Jan. - FilmFreeway

🏋️‍♀️ UWE Bristol are hosting a fully subsidised 9 week bootcamp for experienced TV & film freelancers ready to make their mark in branded content. Deadline 15 Dec. - UWE

🦺 Sign up now for a stepping up to Location Manager course for Wales based crew. Takes place Feb 2026. - ScreenSkills

📺 The TV Foundation's New Writers Collective is open for applications until 8 Jan. Hear from a SWIF subscriber on his experience in the collective. - TV Foundation

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Screen Alliance Wales & Creative Wales have launched a new project to support Wales-based crew to progress into mid-level roles on productions. Apply by 15 Dec. - Screen Alliance Wales

💪🏾 BFI Network SW's Working-Class Producers’ Forum is open for applications until 8 Jan. - Watershed

🤗 If you're a Producer looking for a hot desk, Pervasive Media Studio at Watershed Bristol have an open door policy for Producers on Wednesdays. - Watershed

🏫 The BFI Film Academy in Bridgwater is accepting applications for 16-19 yr olds for its Jan-Feb cohort. Deadline 5 Jan. - Somerset Film

🌆 The BFI are looking for organisations to delivery academy activity for young people. Deadline 21 Jan. - BFI

🧑‍🎨 Closing tonight! Art Director needed at Uni of Bristol. Deadline 2 Dec. - Uni of Bristol

😎 Multiple heads of department needed in Hampshire/Dorset for a rom-com short film focusing on burn out in the hospitality industry. - Facebook

🙋🏿 Casting call for any gender POC actor with a playing age 30-50s for a paid short promotional film shooting in Bristol 10-12 Dec. - Email

🤔 ScreenSkills are seeking multiple Unscripted TV Skills Fund working group members. You'll need to work for a production company making unscripted TV with an understanding of the skills needs of the workforce and employers in the sector. Deadline 11 Dec. - ScreenSkills

🌱 Climate Spring are hiring a remote working Unscripted Development Producer. Deadline 19 Dec. - CS

🎞️ Cornwall Film Festival have launched "Quick Cut", a 90 second film competition. Open for submissions from now until May. - Cornwall Film Festival

🗣️ The Cornwall Monologue Competition has its next deadline on 31 Dec, with further deadlines in the new year. - FilmFreeway

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

📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Screams by the Sea (15 Dec), 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: West Indies dir. Med Hondo (on DVD) & The Second Mother dir. Anna Muylaert (on 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

💌 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.