SWIF digest 📬 9 December 2025
Last few funding ops of the year in this digest...
👋 Hi filmmakers. Looking forward to seeing you at SWIF festive drinks x my birthday on 15 Dec. Minor location change to the middle floor (not the top floor), but still at Left Handed Giant Bristol. Bring your SWIF hats and celebratory spirit!
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A personal film slate / project tracker was recently added to the resources.
Here’s your weekly digest for independent film in the South West:
📸 Event photo from Animinspo's Nov meet up & screening. - Instagram
🤝 City Eye Film Network's next meet up is tonight (9 Dec) in Southampton. - Eventbrite
🦁 "A Wildlife Filmmakers' Journey" talk from a filmmaker whose works feature on many of the top broadcasters, takes place near Bournemouth on 10 Dec. - Eventbrite
🥰 Fidget Film Club's relaxed movie night for neurodivergent folks will screen The Long Kiss Goodnight in Cardiff on 12 Dec. - Eventbrite
🔫 A new action-comedy short film premieres in Gloucester on 16 Dec. The screening also includes bts footage and a Q&A session with the cast and crew. - Eventbrite
💌 Animinspo are hosting an open submission shorts screening on 19 Dec in Bristol. - Instagram
⚡️ Jolt Gloucester's next "co-lab" networking for 18-30yr old creatives takes place 1 Jan. - Jolt
🚢 Archaeo-Heritage Film Festival have just announced their 2026 dates with "Into the Depths" theme. 5-8 Feb in Bath. - BAH
👏 Powerhouse Talent Management has officially launched in Bristol. A space championing bold storytellers, grassroots talent and those carving out their own path. - Instagram
👽 A short film that I'm 1st AD on next year is still crowdfunding and has hit its first milestone. You can still support this queer romantic sci-fi short film. - Indie Go Go
🏚️ Paignton Picture House has been awarded £675k from Historic England for its restoration. The Grade II listed cinema in Torbay will reopen in Sep next year. - Devon & Cornwall Film
🤩 SWIF film club is now at 100 films! We're in the last few weeks of 2025's themes. Take a look at our ongoing list. How many have you seen? What should next year's themes be? - Letterboxd
🎭 A one off evening Meisner acting workshop is taking place in Bristol on 16 Dec. - Headfirst
🍊 Boomsatsuma are open for applications for a fully funded 7‑month creative studio placement for 18-24 year olds in Bristol. No specified deadline so apply soon. - Boomsatsuma
🏋️♀️ All Set West's entry level training scheme, based at the Bottleyard Studios in Bristol, has re-openeded for applications. Deadline 11 Jan. - All Set West
🏃🏿♀️ Full crew needed for a folk horror music video filming in Jan in Bristol. - Tabb
✂️ Editor needed for a female-led action short film. - Tabb
👨🏽🏫 Drama Teacher needed in Bath. Deadline 9 Dec. - Arts Jobs
🕵🏽♀️ Gems Agency in Wales are hiring a Talent Agent. Deadline 9 Jan. - Screen Alliance Wales
🤸🏽 Assistant Drama Facilitator needed in Bristol. Deadline 9 Jan. - Arts Jobs
💸 BBC Film's small indie fund is open for applications until 22 Dec. In this instance "TV" includes film. - BBC
📝 Literature Work's writers residency is open for applications until 4 Jan. - Quay Words
🤑 Bristol Council's creative engagement commissions are open for applications until 12 Jan. - Bristol Council
👩❤️👩 The personals: Nothing this week. Get in touch for a free listing.
📮 Upcoming film festival submission deadlines: Screams by the Sea (15 Dec), Carmarthen Bay (23 Dec), Watch Africa, Encounters (both 31 Dec), Gloucester Independent (3 Jan), Women in Film & TV Cardiff (8 Jan) & Fortean (31 Jan). - FilmFreeway & WFTV
👾 Cardiff Mini Film Festival takes place 18 Jan. - CMFF
🍿 On film club: Naked Acts dir. Bridgett M. Davis (on BFIplayer) & Sorry, Baby dir. Eva Victor (on Mubi).
📣 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
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.
