SWIF digest 📬 5 May 2026

👋 Hey filmmakers! My short film Fathom is available to watch now.

It's a five minute dive into a climate apocalypse, a toxic workplace and a spark of hope for solidarity. I'd really appreciate it if you could watch it today and comment on which character you're most like. Thank you!

🥰 Please consider supporting this resource. You can give a one-off amount, or take an on-going membership if you want access to the filmmaker resources.

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

🎥 Head to Chapter Cardiff for The Guild of Television Camera Operators' evening social. Meet local camera crew to chat about gear & the industry. Open to members & non-members. 6 May. - Eventbrite

🧐 The University of Bristol's film & televison department are hosting a film quiz on 11 May. Open to non-students and industry teams. - Instagram

👁️ Networking in Southampton takes place on 12 May with City Eye. - Eventbrite

🎞️ Take part in a photowalk and 35mm film processing workshop in Portsmouth on 16 May. - Eventbrite

🕵️‍♀️ NFTS Cymru are holding an open day for their casting certificate course on 18 May in Cardiff. - NFTS

🌿 Make Happen Institute are hosting a Q&A with Seth Finegold, a filmmaker & creative entrepreneur, who's exploring how storytelling can support a sustainable, community-focused way of living. 27 May. - Circle

😎 Somerset Film are hosting networking for creatives aged 16-25yrs on 27 May in Bridgwater. - Somerset Film

🎉 Rising Arts Agency in Bristol will be celebrating 10 years with a weekend of events over 10-13 Jun. - Humanitix

💌 Submit your film for Somerset Film's next short film night on 11 Jun. - Somerset Film

📽️ Watch short films from emerging talent at Queer Bath Film Festival on 13 Jun. - Queer Bath

🔫 A hands-on replica firearms for film workshop for actors takes place in Falmouth on 17 May. The morning session has already sold out, so get in quick for the afternoon. - The Poly

🤝 New to networking or still just hate it? The Film & TV Charity are running a free & stress-free online workshop on 3 Jun. - F&TVC

🎭 A one day screen acting workshop takes place in Falmouth on 16 Jul. - Swashbuckling Cornwall

💄 Costume & Hair & Make-Up Designer needed at Channel 4 in Bristol. - Screen Alliance Wales

🎨 Art Department Assistant needed at Bad Wolf Productions in Cardiff. Deadline 6 May. - Screen Alliance Wales

🕺 Create Studios have released a casting call for a male aged 50-65yrs in Swindon. Wiltshire accent required. Deadline 8 May. - Instagram

😱 Director of Photography needed for one day horror shoot in Bournemouth on 10 May. From the team behind Screams by the Sea Festival. - Instagram

🤵‍♀️ Exeter Phoenix are hiring a Marketing Officer. Deadline 10 May. - Arts Jobs

🧑‍🎨 Boomsatsuma are hiring a Head of Department for Art & Design. Deadline 13 May. - Boomsatsuma

🖍️ Last week to apply for BFI Network South West's Writing for Animation Lab. Deadline 11 May. - Watershed

🧑🏽‍🔬 BFI Network South West & Bournemouth Film School's Director Lab has its deadline for applications on 22 May. - Watershed

🤣 DLT Entertainment are looking for comedy scripts of up to 30 minutes for their industry tableread at Edinburgh Fringe. - DLT

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Running Cliche Productions in Wales are looking for Writers & Documentary Filmmakers with projects that could be a strong fit for Ffilm Cymru Wales’ Beacons short film funding. Deadline 15 May. - ScreenSkills

🕰️ Yarns Film's 'Nostalgia' short film fund is free to enter and has its deadline on 21 May. - Yarns

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

📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Wildscreen (13 May), Cardiff Mini (15 May), ANiMiNSPO Mini (19 May), Pompeywood Genre Film Festival (21 May), Cornwall Film Festival (22 May), Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival (24 May) & Two Short Nights Film Festival (31 May). - FilmFreeway

🤘 Doc’n Roll Film Festival takes place in Cardiff on 12-17 May. - Chapter

🟠 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: And Then We Danced dir. Levan Akin (on BFIplayer) & A Life on the Farm dir. Oscar Harding (South West made! Available 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
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..