SWIF digest 📬 27 January 2026
Film funds are gearing back up for a new year, with plenty in this digest to dig into...
👋 Hi filmmakers. If you're heading to the sold out Bluescreen shorts night at Cube Bristol tomorrow, you might spot me in the credits!
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Here’s your weekly digest for independent film in the South West:
📸 Photo from Creative Mornings Bristol's first meeting since relaunching. - Instagram
👥 Watch a screening & Director's Q&A of semi-autobiographical feature debut My Father's Shadow in Bristol tonight (27 Jan). - Watershed
🕰️ Filmmakers Plymouth Social presents '60 Minute Challenge'. Dust off your camera and make your first film of the year. Working in teams you will be given a prompt & 60mins to create a film from start to finish. 30 Jan in Plymouth. - Eventbrite
👋🏽 Script Club Cardiff's regular meet up & writing co-working takes place on 1 Feb. - Eventbrite
🚨 BCI are hosting a panel with ITV News on 'the changing face of news consumption & lessons for storytelling' on 13 Feb in Bristol. - Bristol Creative Industries
🙀 Horror fans! A fear & pop culture themed pub quiz takes place on 13 Feb in Bristol to raise money for a short film. - Headfirst
🚶♀️ Screening & Director Q&A of Gentle, Angry Women, a documentary of Greenham Common Women's Peace Protest rediscovered through the eyes of three young female campaigners, takes place on 17 Feb in Falmouth. - Eventbrite
⛓️ Catch a post-screening conversation at a preview of Wasteman on the representation of UK prisons, drugs & addiction. Bristol on 18 Feb. - Watershed
☕️ BFI Network SW's next online coffee morning is 19 Feb. Come along with anything you'd like to discuss. - Eventbrite
🏭 Interested in film history? Hear from academics on proposed research into film studios in France, Britain, Germany & Italy in 1930s-60s. 20 Feb in Bristol. - Eventbrite
🔮 Inside Screen 2026 takes place on 28 Feb in Bristol. For 16-25yr olds looking to build their networks and pick up insights to help them navigate the screen industries. - Watershed
👻 Screams by the Sea Film Festival have released tickets for their industry hub which sits alongside the main festival. 13-14 Mar in Bournemouth. - Eventbrite
🦬 Wildlife documentary Zubr, which follows a bison ranger's journey through Poland's Bialowieza Forest to discover how bison transform ecosystems, is avaible to watch online. The film was scored by Bristol based Composer Joe Galuszka. - Linktree
🎨 Sony Filmmakers Hub has released some free LUTs. - Sony
🎭 Bristol Improv Theatre are running a one-day introduction to the Meisner technique workshop on 14 Mar. - BIT
🎬 Somerset Film are hosting a 'shoot a documentary film in a day' workshop on 17 Mar in Somerton. - Somerset Film
👀 Encounters Film Festival is looking for volunteer pre-selectors. Deadline to apply 30 Jan. - Encounters
🏃🏿♀️ Location Runner needed in Bristol for Mar-May. Deadline to apply 2 Feb. - Production Base
🧶 Filmmaker needed at Woven Films in Bristol for work spanning TV commercials, brand campaigns, social-first content, case studies, and corporate films. - Bristol Creative Industries
🤵♀️ Producer needed for maternity cover at JonesMillbank Bristol. Experience working with creatives and brands needed. - Bristol Creative Industries
❤️🔥 Grierson DocLab's new entrants programme for 18-25yr olds who have a demonstrable passion for factual television. From nature documentaries to reality TV, short-form content to feature docs and everything in between. Deadline 19 Feb. - Grierson Trust
🫂 ASA is looking for creative & community led projects from creatives with an SO postcode for its pitch your project grant. Deadline 9 Feb. - A Space Arts
🪙Apply for We Are Epic’s Nudge Fund to help pay for training, rehearsal space, props/costume, tech/tools, R&D days or other practical costs that enable creative work. Deadline 9 Feb. - We Are Epic
🤑 The Netflix Documentary Talent Fund is accepting applications until 12 Feb. - Netflix
🍄 The Massee Arts Grant for projects (inc films) that encourage all sectors of society to engage with & learn about the world of fungi, is open for applications until 31 Mar. - British Mycological Society
✍🏾 Art Department people! I'm selling my A0 drawing board in very good condition. It was a brilliant friend to my learning of hand draughting. Free delivery or collection in Bristol area. - Ebay
👩❤️👩 The personals: Nothing this week. Get in touch for a free listing.
📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Carmarthen Bay, Fortean (both 31 Jan), International Film Festival of Wales (6 Feb), Gloucester Independent (7 Feb), Forbidden Worlds (13 Feb), Cornwall (20 Feb) & Wildscreen (24 Feb). - FilmFreeway
🤿 Archeo-Heritage Film presents: Into the Depths 5-8 Feb in Bath. - BAHFF
📷 Two Short Nights Film Festival takes place in Exeter 5-6 Mar. - TSN
👻 Screams By The Sea International Film Festival takes place in Bournemouth 13-14 Mar. - SBTS
🍿 On film club: Close dir. Lukas Dhont (on Mubi) & Black Box Diaries dir. Shiori Ito (on BBC iPlayer).
📣 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.
