SWIF digest 📬 28 April 2026

👋 Hey filmmakers! This week I am releasing Fathom online. A short film about burnout and desperate job seeking, from someone who burnt herself out in this industry and got rejected from every film fund ever. But we still went and made the film anyway! If that's you too, subscribe to my youtube channel to see it first.

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

📸 Poster reveal for short film Why You Shouldn't Date in Bristol. - Instagram

🤝 City Eye Film Network's next meetup is 12 May, with a talk from Actress, Writer & Filmmaker Eva Best. - Eventbrite

🌃 Tickets still available for Bath Film Office's talk on locations and local production on 13 May. - Eventbrite

🎞️ Learn how to develop film at Cornwall Community Darkroom in New Mill on 15 May. - Eventbrite

🗣️ BAFTA-winning & OSCAR-nominated Writer, Director & Animator Mikey Please will be giving a talk in Taunton on 16 May. - Eventbrite

🚵 Hear about filmmaking whilst cycling on a journey to Switzerland at a talk in Penryn on 18 May. - Eventbrite

🏭 Documentary W: A Return to Oz, exploring the famous Warehouse Club in Plymouth, is screening in Bristol on 21 May & Plymouth on 3 Jun. - Ticket Tailor

👋 Networking takes place in Cardiff on 21 May. - Eventbrite

🤪 The BBC Comedy Collective for Writers, Producers, Directors & Editors with at least one previous credit, is open for applications until 6 May. - BBC

📕 The Women in Film & TV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab is open for applications until 12 May, but they may close it earlier! - WFTV

🎫 The Complete Cinema Marketing Course is open to all BFI FAN members, for cinemas & film festivals who want to strengthen their marketing expertise. Deadline to apply 18 May. - BFI

📺 The Royal Television Society's bursary scheme for students from low income backgrounds is open for applications until 24 Jun. - RTS

✍🏾 Create Studios are hiring freelance Graphic Designers. - Instagram

🔭 S4C Cardiff are hiring a Head of Technical Services (5 May), an Archive and Content Delivery Lead (8 May) & a Social Media Lead (11 May). - S4C

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Team Co-ordinators needed at Arts Council Wales. Welsh speaking required. Deadline 6 May. - Arts Wales

📖 Storytelling Trainee needed at Wildscreen in Bristol. Deadline 8 May. - Wildscreen

👩🏻‍💻 Production Management Assistant needed in Bristol. Deadline 13 May. - Production Base

🧀 Lead Creative needed for digital original content at Aardman in Bristol. Deadline 22 May. - Aardman

🏦 Last two days to apply for First Flights short film fund. Deadline 30 Apr. - First Flights

🤣 Sitcom Mission's 15 min sitcom script competition has extended its deadline to 3 May. - Comedy

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

📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Bristol Documentary (30 Apr), Electric (1 May), Gloucester Independent (2 May), Queer Vision (3 May), Encounters (4 May), Wildscreen (13 May), Cardiff Mini (15 May) & ANiMiNSPO Mini (19 May). - FilmFreeway

🟠 Carmarthen Bay Film Festival takes place on 18-21 May. - CBFF

🌍 Watch Africa Film Festival takes place in Cardiff on 11-13 Jun. - WAFF

🏳️‍🌈 Queer Bath Film Festival takes place on 13 Jun. - QBFF

⚡️ Electric Film Festival takes place in Poole on 20 Jun. - EFF

🏳️‍⚧️ Queer Vision Film Festival takes place in Bristol on 26 Jun - 10 Jul. - QVFF

🍿 On film club: The Children’s Hour dir. William Wyler (on Amazon) & Dancing with the Birds dir. Huw Cordey (on Netflix).

📣 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..