SWIF digest 📬 8 September 2026

👋 Hello filmmakers. Our birthday party is this week! See you on Friday 11 Sep in Bristol for catch ups with film friends, games, meeting new collaborators and updates on upcoming support. All filmmakers welcome, any genre, any experience.

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

📸 Recent meeting of Creative Mornings Bristol. Catch their next talk & breakfast networking on 24 Sep. - Creative Mornings

🎉 Meet up with filmmakers and regional film orgs at SWIF's third birthday party on 11 Sep in Bristol. - SWIF

🪕 Award-winning music documentary The Banjo Boys, produced in Bournemouth, screens at Watch Africa Film Festival in Cardiff on 13 Sep, followed by a Q&A with the director.- Chapter Cardiff

🤝 Normal Girl productions' bi-monthly womxn in film & the creative industries networking drinks takes place in Bristol on 14 Sep. - Headfirst

🧑‍🎨 Hear an artists' talk from members of Arnolfini's artist film programme about their newly commissioned films. 17 Sep in Bristol. - Arnolfini

🗣️ Women in Film & TV are hosting a panel on producing multi-lingual dramas followed by networking in Cardiff on 23 Sep. - WFTV

🎁 Share your work at Filmmakers Plymouth Social's next event on 24 Sep. - Eventbrite

💙 Watch short films across genres at Bluescreen short film night in Bristol on 30 Sep. - Cube Cinema

📽️ Watch a short film night exploring consent & conversation, in Bristol on 5 Oct. - Headfirst

🎟️ Passes are now on sale for the industry day at the Iris Prize Film Festival on 15 Oct in Cardiff. - Iris

😱 Interactive horror series Shadow Peak continues this week. Watch new episodes every 48hrs and vote for how Casey should try to survive. - Trail 3 Films

🎤 Applications are open for 'Beyond Boundaries 360', Film Hub South West’s free development programme for those are interested in film curation, event production, marketing and audience development. Deadline 15 Sep. - Watershed

🌱 Apply now for High-End TV Sustainability Coordinator Training, a free two-week programme delivered by Production Guild UK, Neptune Sustainability & ScreenSkills. Taking place 2-13 Nov, apply by 30 Sep. - ScreenSkills

📝 Arvon’s two year screenwriting programme for emerging screenwriters from working-class & lower socio-economic backgrounds is open for applications until 30 Sep. - Arvon

🕵️ Casting is underway for proof-of-concept short Ubiquitous, a stylised action-thriller with sci-fi elements, shooting in Plymouth 19-21 Oct. This film is part of SWIF's micro-budget feature workshop! - Mandy / StarNow

🧑‍💼 Black Lab Films in Cardiff are looking for a Production Coordinator / Junior Production Manager. Deadline 14 Sep. - Instagram

😂 Final week to submit your TV comedy script to the BAFTA Rocliffe competition. Deadline 16 Sep. - BAFTA

💸 Applications are now open for the Women in Film & TV short film fund. Deadline 5 Oct. - WFTV

👩‍❤️‍👩 The personals: Colourist available for narrative, documentary or other short-form work. Based in Cornwall but happy to collaborate with filmmakers across the region. - Email Trystan Tom-Baird

✍️ Submit your work in progress animation films to Animinspo at Encounters Film Festival. Deadline 16 Sep. - Google Form

📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Cardiff Mini (10 Sep), Two Short Nights (20 Sep), Cardiff Animation (22 Sep), Portsmouth Shorts::Cut, Pigeon Laughs (both 30 Sep), Southampton Film Week (9 Oct) & Screams by the Sea (8 Nov). - FilmFreeway

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

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

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

↗️ Elevation Film Festival takes place 3-4 Oct in Devonport. - Elevation

🏳️‍🌈 Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival takes place 12-18 Oct in Cardiff. - Iris

🎥 Bath Film Festival takes place 16-25 Oct. - Film Bath

🗣️ Poetry Film Festival takes place on 17 Oct in Bristol. - Eventbrite

🍿 On film club: Maurice dir. James Ivory (on BFIplayer) & Icarus dir. Bryan Fogel (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

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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.