SWIF digest 📬 28 October 2025

👋 Hi filmmakers. It was great to see so many of you at the Bath Film Festival industry day last week. I'm looking forward to Aesthetica Film Festival in York next. If you or your work is going to be there, let me know!

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

🥳 Congrats to Bristol-based Sarah Dawes for winning the IMDB script to screen award at Bath Film Festival. - Instagram

🍷 Networking drinks for women in film & the creative industries takes place in Bristol on 29 Oct. - Eventbrite

🌊 The premiere screening of The Breakwater, a south west short film shot in St. Agnes, takes place on 1 Nov. - Eventbrite

🍻 "Shooters in the Pub", an informal networking group, has its next meetup on 5 Nov at Exeter Phoenix. - Facebook

🎧 A screening & Q&A of Vi4YL, a feature-length documentary on the world of vinyl from a Bournemouth-based Producer, takes place on 6 Nov in Bournemouth. - Eventbrite

🤝 Bristol Creative Industries are hosting networking drinks on 11 Nov. - Eventbrite

☕️ BFI South West's next online coffee morning takes place 11 Nov. - Watershed

😨 Documentary Ghosts of Alderney, the hidden WW2 history of the channel island, screens with a Director Q&A on 11 Nov at Exeter Phoenix and 12 Nov at The Poly Falmouth. - EP & PF

🤨 Make Happen Institute Bristol has an online Q&A about their MA Creative Practice on 29 Oct. - Luma

☪️ UK Muslim Film & BBC are looking for emerging Muslim Writers for a mentoring programme. Deadline to apply 31 Oct. - UKMF

🎥 Calling Camera Operators working in un-scripted TV! Screen Alliance Wales are running a two-day course with Rahim Mastafa & Duncan Birnie. Apply by 3 Nov. - Screen Alliance Wales

🤺 Swashbuckling Cornwall's intro to screen combat workshop on 20 Nov has just gone on sale. - Eventbrite

🚸 Creative Writing Tutor needed at a primary school near Wells. - Indeed

📍 An HETV drama production company based in South Wales is looking for a Locations Trainee. Apply asap. - Screen Alliance Wales

🖍️ Trainee Artist needed for a placement in the design & animation departments for series two of BBC's The Golden Cobra. - Screen Alliance Wales

🎖️ BBC's Bargain Hunt are looking for a Junior Director in Cardiff. Deadline 2 Nov. - Talent Manager

🙋🏿 BBC are hiring a Post-Production Technical Operator Apprentice at the Natural History Unit and BBC Studios, both in Bristol. Deadlines 13 Nov. - BBC

🎗️ Reclaim the Frame, an award-winning charity championing gender justice in cinema, are looking for a new Trustee. Deadline 17 Nov. - RtF

💰 The Developing Room's short film microfund for members has its next deadline on 31 Oct. - DR

🎓 Alumni of Bournemouth Film School can apply to their latest short film fund. Deadline 8 Dec. - BFS

🍿 Somerset Film are hosting a short film night on 11 Dec in Bridgwater and submissions are open & free! I'll be at this one. - Somerset Film

⏳ Curzon & Notion's 'Ignite' short film competition has free entries for films under 3 mins. Deadline 2 Jan. - Curzon

📚 Getting your script plans organised for next year? Script Angel have a mega list of annual competitions if you need external deadlines. - Script Angel

📮 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

🕵️‍♂️ 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. I'll be speaking on day one. - 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: 12 Years a Slave dir. Steve McQueen (to rent on BFIplayer) & Blue Jean dir. Georgia Oakley (to stream on BBCiplayer).

📣 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. 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.