Encounters and BFI team up for diversity fund
Skwigly
With the support of the BFI’s Diversity Fund, Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival is offering new and emerging filmmakers from under-represented groups a unique prize package as part of a short film pitching competition at this year’s festival, hosted in Bristol from 20th-25th September.
The competition comes as direct response to the issue surrounding current lack of diversity within the film industry. Filmmakers from underrepresented groups identified in the BFI Diversity Guidelines have the chance of winning cash prizes to make their films, as well as invaluable professional experience and development opportunities through promotion on national and international platforms.
All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend Encounters Festival 2016, to take part in workshops and mentoring sessions, and will then pitch their ideas to a group of international expert judges.
In addition to the with cash prize for funding their films – £1,500 for the winning entry, £250 for second prize and in-kind support for the runner-up – the competition winners will also get support with crowd-funding campaigns post the festival. The overall winner will also get a trip to the 2017 Clermont Ferrand Film Festival for short films with the Encounters Festival Team.
Encounters Festival has created this brilliant opportunity for new and emerging filmmakers from underrepresented groups, supporting diversity and tackling barriers that can often be found when trying to break into the industry with the support of the BFI Diversity Fund. We are encouraging applicants to be as creative as possible to come up with new ideas for a short film that tackles the idea of challenging limitations of character and story development often seen on screen.
-Alice Cabanas, Director of Encounters Film Festival
Got an idea for a short film? Applications are now open, using whichever method suits you best covering both animation and short film. The competition closes on 31st August. Full guidelines can be found online. For more information, or if you have any questions email info@encounters-festival.org.uk
This project is made possible with the support of the BFI Diversity Fund, awarding funds from The National Lottery.