SWIF digest 📬 21 October 2025
Lots of training across the region to get stuck into right now...
👋 Hi filmmakers. Still open to conversations with anyone interested in SWIF's micro-budget feature workshop for Writers, Directors & Producers leading their own projects. Drop me an email and let's jump on a call.
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Here’s your weekly digest for independent film in the South West:
🥳 Congrats to the filmmakers selected for the "Scream Queens" short horror film development lab. - Instagram
🚦 ReFramed are hosting an evening of talks & screenings discussing barriers to entry in the creative industries. 22 Oct in Bristol. - Headfirst
🎨 Need a creative wellbeing workshop? Catch creativeShiftcic's next relaxed & friendly event on 23 Oct in Bristol. - Arnolfini
🎤 Bath Film Festival's industry day takes place this week on 23 Oct. I'll be speaking on the "making your film happen: funding, filming, and finding community" panel. - FilmBath
🙋🏿 Short films, Q&As and more at Watershed Bristol on 24 Oct for a celebration of Black Bristol culture. - Eventbrite
🤼♀️ Tabb's ScriptLab for Writers to workshop new writing with Actors, Directors & Producers, takes place in Bath on 25 Oct. - Tabb
👻 Filmmakers Plymouth Social have a spooky themed social meetup on 30 Oct, with a prize for best costume. - FotoNow
💬 The Poly Falmouth are screening debut feature Signs of Life plus a Q&A with the Director on 9 Nov. - The Poly
🤝 Somerset Film are hosting networking for 16-25yr olds on 12 Nov in Bridgwater. - Somerset Film
🎭 Bristol Old Vic Theatre School have an open day on 29 Nov for their post-graduate and short courses. - BOVTS
🫥 Short films screening & more on the theme of "stories beyond the veil" on 1 Nov in Bristol. They also need volunteers. - Blue Metaphor
💸 Run down to Exeter Phoenix for a free fundraising workshop this afternoon (21 Oct). Made possible by events Arts Fundraising, with more events coming up. - Exeter Phoenix
🤑 Netflix are running an Assistant Production Accountant training scheme. Deadline to apply 4 Nov. - Production Guild
⛪️ Wells Cathedral want to support two 18-25yr olds in the early stages of their creative careers with paid training placements. Deadline 7 Nov. - Wells Cathedral
🕹️ Fully funded skills bootcamps in virtual production are taking place in Bristol. Apply by 12 Nov. - MyWorld
👨🏽🏫 NFTS & Amazon Prime are offering free online courses in "TV adjacent media" over the next few weeks. - NFTS
🏋️♀️ NFTS Cymru are offering short courses with bursaries in many departments this autumn. - NFTS
🎥 Across Nov-Jan Ffilm Cymru are offering a free six-part workshop on essential disciplines of modern filmmaking. Register now for events in Newport. - Ffilm Cymru
👩🏭 ITV's work experience programme is open for applications until 27 Oct. - ITV
💃 Casting call for a drama short filming in Cheltenham. Children and adults needed. - Instagram
🕺🏼 Casting call for a thriller/drama tv pilot filming in February in Bristol. - Tabb
📰 Critics & film writers! The Independent newspaper is looking for freelance culture & entertainment writers. - LinkedIn
✂️ Video & Podcast Editor needed at LRB, a small video agency in Bristol. - Bristol Creative Industries
🧑💻 Video Production Manager needed at the Tank Museum near Dorchester. Deadline 29 Oct. - Arts Jobs
🍊 Boomsatsuma Bristol are hiring a Creative Team Leader to help students as they take on live creative briefs. Deadline 24 Oct. - Boomsatsuma
🔥 Real SFX is hiring a Special Effects Apprentice to join their team in Cardiff. Deadline 30 Oct. - Screen Alliance Wales
🙌🏾 Last day to apply for the Leap x Channel 4 Development & Empowerment Labs in Bristol & Wales. Black Writers, Directors & Producers apply by 22 Oct. - Google Form
🧑💻 BFI Network South West are hosting a virtual Q&A session on 29 Oct to discuss the early development fund for feature film treatments. - Eventbrite
😱 OKRE's Thriller Lab is a funded three-month development programme for Writers & Producers to create bold, gripping thrillers grounded in real-world science. Apply by 7 Nov. - OKRE Fund
📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Scriptwriters & Co International Festival, Pigeon Laughs (both 31 Oct), International Film Festival of Wales (7 Nov), Screams by the Sea (10 Nov), Gloucester Independent (22 Nov) & No Reason (23 Nov). - FilmFreeway
👘 Fashion in Film Festival continues in Exeter & Plymouth until 25 Oct. - FiF
🍿 Bath Film Festival takes place 17-26 Oct. - Film Bath
🕵️♂️ Film Noir Fest takes place 31 Oct - 2 Nov in Weston-super-Mare. - South West Silents
↘️ Queer East Film Festival on the road comes to Bristol 1-4 Nov. - Queer East
🙋♀️ Sistaland Festival takes place 11-12 Nov in Bristol. - Sistaland
🌊 Cornwall Film Festival takes place 11-30 Nov in Falmouth. - Mor Media
🌍 Afrika Eye Festival takes place 14-16 Nov in Bristol. - Afrika Eye
🚢 Southampton Film Week takes place 14-23 Nov. - SFW
👩❤️👩 The personals: Nothing this week. Get in touch for a free listing.
🍿 On film club: Exhibiting Forgiveness dir. Titus Kaphar (on Now TV) & Beautiful Thing dir. Hettie Macdonald (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. Personal links
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.
