SWIF digest 📬 4 August 2026

👋 Hey filmmakers! One great joy of researching the digests every week is finding an opportunity that's perfect for a filmmaker in the region, sending it specifically to them, then seeing their genuine happy reaction that someone else was thinking of their creative career as well. It's kind of addictive. Do that this week for someone you know, it'll mean a lot.

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

📸 I'll be releasing a poster reveal for my latest sci-fi short film Playback on my private first look email soon. Sign up free to follow the journey and see the film first. - Holly's BeeHiiv

🥒 Watch a free community screening of documentary Groundswell on 6 Aug in Bideford, exploring the global movement restoring food systems & reshaping our relationship with the planet. - Eventbrite

☀️ Exeter Phoenix are hosting a summer social for creatives on 7 Aug in their secret garden. - Instagram

🤝 Looking for investors or sponsors for your next project? The RUN's low-pressure, cross-industry business networking takes place on 12 Aug in Plymouth. - Eventbrite

🐙 Take part in an animation workshop as part of the UK premier of documentary Before the Last Octopus, on 19 Aug in Penzance. - Eventbrite

😱 Watershed in Bristol are hosting an after party for Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma on 20 Aug. - Instagram

🥂 Film & creative industries networking drinks takes place on 25 Aug in Bristol. - Headfirst

👀 SWIF presents short films with Q&As at St Anne's House Bristol on 27 Aug. Drama, documentary & art films from SWIF filmmakers. Pay what you can option available. - Headfirst

🎂 SWIF's 3rd birthday party & filmmaker mixer takes place on 11 Sep in Bristol. - SWIF

🦀 Join Dorset Greenpeace for an evening of short films, expert talks & audience discussion exploring the future of our seas and coastal wildlife. 18 Sep in Swanage. - Eventbrite

🏗️ Early bird tickets are on sale for Iris Prize Festival's industry day on 15 Oct in Cardiff. The programme was amazing last year. This year's line up will be announced on 17 Aug. - Iris

📺 Apply to a paid TV work experience programme in Bristol by 14 Aug. - ProductionBase

🙋🏽‍♀️ Volunteer applications are now open for stewarding and film writing Bath Film Festival. - BFF

🛠️ Screen South are looking for creative practitioners and crew to help deliver workshops and programmes for industry professionals and the public. - Screen South

🎤 Applications are open for speakers & facilitators for Sistaland Festival 2027. - Instagram

🌊 Devon/Cornwall Producer needed for a documentary about clean water, South West Water and the fight for sewage-clean seas. A long-term project with possibility for short films for organisations & brands. Emerging producers welcome. - Email Therese Walsh

✂️ Video Editor needed at LRB video & podcast agency in Bristol. - Bristol Creative Industries

🚑 Costume Junior needed on BBC's Casualty in Cardiff. Apply soon as there's no advertised deadline. - BBC

🏃🏿‍♀️ Wales based Production Runner / Assistant needed for an HETV series. Deadline 6 Aug. - Instagram

🎼 Composers needed at WeCompose to join a dynamic, reflective & committed cohort of Composers working to transform how composition is taught in secondary schools. Deadline 14 Aug. - Arts Jobs

🙌 Filmmaker or collective needed to create a 2-3mins short film to showcase arts & culture across Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole. Deadline to apply 24 Aug. - Arts Jobs

🤑 BFI Doc Society's documentary development fund and research & development fund both close for applications on 5 Aug. - DocSoc

💸 Bath Film Festival's Script to Screen Award, which comes with a short film production fund, has its final deadline on 15 Aug. - FilmFreeway

🪜 Final week to apply for BFI Network SW's 'New Voices: Step Up' scheme for filmmakers who identify as being from a lower socio-economic background or who are currently unemployed & claiming benefits. Deadline 11 Aug. - Watershed

📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Screams by the Sea (9 Aug), Cardiff Mini (11 Aug), Bath, Bristol Radical (both 15 Aug), Cardiff Animation (25 Aug), Southampton Film Week (28 Aug), Carmarthen Bay (31 Aug) & Two Short Nights (31 Aug). - FilmFreeway

🏔️ Bristol Documentary Film Festival takes place 3-5 Sep. - BDFF

😺 ANiMiNSPO Mini Animation Festival takes place on 12 Sep in Bristol. - Animinspo

🎬 Encounters Film Festival takes place 23-27 Sep in Bristol. - Encounters

🍿 On film club: 1985 dir. Yen Tan (on Tubi) & Love, Antosha dir. Garret Price (on Amazon Prime).

📣 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
watch my films

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.