SWIF digest 📬 4 November 2025

👋 Hi filmmakers. Turns out my spam filter is pretty strong. Some entries for the Sistaland Festival ticket giveaway did not come through to me! So sorry for that. We've not yet drawn the results. So if you entered and didn't get an acknowledgement from me, please email me again. And bug me on socials until I respond. I'll be drawing results on Thursday.

Send me an email (hollyholdsworth@gmail.com) cc'ing the two filmmaker pals you'd like to take with you (make sure you're all signed up to SWIF). Thanks.

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

📸 BTS of a filmed table reading for upcoming queer sci-fi romance short Roisin & Raela. - Instagram

🗣️ BFI Network South West are hosting an online conversation with a previous recipient of the early development fund on 10 Nov. - Eventbrite

🤝 City Eye Southampton has its next networking event on 11 Nov. - Eventbrite

🤗 Filmmakers Plymouth Social's next meet up is 13 Nov, at a slightly earlier time than normal. - Fotonow

✈️ The documentary Guilt Trip, the story of pilots torn between flight & climate, screens with a panel of featured former pilots on 16 Nov in Portsmouth. - Eventbrite

🎆 A short film night from filmmakers supported by the Bottleyard Studios & All Set West takes place on 17 Nov in Bristol. - Eventbrite

🧐 Southampton Film Week's annual film quiz returns on 22 Nov. Sold as relaxed but highly competitive. - Eventbrite

💙 Bluescreen short film night is back at The Cube cinema Bristol on 26 Nov. My film Fathom will get its first Bristol screening there! - Headfirst

✍🏾 Writers of the Global Majority is a monthly workshop for writers of all levels, forms and experience. Their next meeting is at Arnolfini Bristol on 26 Nov. - Arnolfini

😱 A talk on the history of horror films and women takes place in Bristol on 2 Dec. - Eventbrite

🎄 Save the date for SWIF Christmas x my birthday drinks on 15 Dec in Bristol.

🏳️‍🌈 You can still watch the selections for the Iris Prize Film Festival online until 7 Nov. They are also looking for venues and hosts for their anniversary tour. - Iris Prize

💔 Short comedy film Why You Shouldn't Date In Bristol is currently running a crowdfunder for production costs. - Crowdfunder

📈 Crowdfunder & Creative UK have teamed up to offer 0% fees for filmmakers. - Crowdfunder

🏆 Watershed Bristol have been shortlisted for BIFA's cinema of the year. Vote now to bring the award to the south west. - BIFA

🎓 Screen Alliance Wales have multiple webinars this month for those in unscripted production. - Screen Alliance Wales

🌍 Creative Enterprise are hosting webinars on 'co-producing across borders' on 21 Nov & 'selling across borders' on 28 Nov. - Eventbrite

🌳 Ffilm Cymru Wales are looking for people underrepresented in film for a paid documentary making course with two residential weeks next year. Deadline 30 Nov. - Ffilm School

📘 A one-off low cost taster script workshop will take place in Bristol on 14 Dec. Further workshops follow on in Feb. - Rachel Tillotson

🏃🏿‍♀️ BBC Studios have opened up submissions for their Runner pool, with an option to choose your primary base as several cities across the south west & Wales. - Beamery

🐑 Production Assistant for animation needed at Aardman in Bristol. Deadline 11 Nov. - Aardman

📣 Reclaim The Frame are hiring a south west freelance Events Producer/Marketeer to champion marginalised perspectives in cinema. Deadline 17 Nov. - Reclaim the Frame

🏋️‍♀️ Channel 4 are hiring two apprentices in Bristol; a Creative Equity Apprentice and a Lifestyle Commissioning Apprentice. Deadlines 2 Jan. - Channel 4

🎞️ Applications are open for The Elouise Carden Rising Star in Post Production Bursary for early-career women. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until the places are filled. - WFTV

📺 Screen Alliance Wales have launched a showcase youtube channel and are open for submissions. - YouTube

📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: International Film Festival
 of Wales (7 Nov), Screams by the Sea (10 Nov), Forbidden Worlds (21 Nov), Gloucester Independent (22 Nov), No Reason (23 Nov) & Watch Africa (30 Nov). - FilmFreeway

🙋‍♀️ Sistaland Festival takes place 11-12 Nov in Bristol. I'll be speaking on a panel 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

🇵🇸 Bristol Palestine Film Festival takes place 28 Nov - 7 Dec. - BPFF

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

🍿 On film club: Black Girl dir. Ousmane Sembène (rent on AppleTV) & The Tale dir. Jennifer Fox (stream on NowTV).

📣 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.