Screen Agencies - Regional Public Funding
From 4docs
Contents |
Introduction
For new filmmakers, local and regional schemes are generally the most accessible as they have a higher number of smaller grants than national funders, and are often designed for filmmakers using cheaper digital methods of filmmaking. They are a good starting point as usually there is less competition than for national schemes.
These funds will not only give you cash but also support, advice, resources and the benefit of their experience, which can be invaluable.
Before you submit an application it is worth contacting a representative of the funding body to have an initial chat about what they are looking for in an application in terms of style, back up materials and tastes. It may also be a good idea to contact previous successful applicants to find out about their projects.
Check out Skillset's Regional Screen Agencies listings
Schemes and programmes offered by the Screen Agencies evolve and change, so if you know of more up to date information please do alter or add to this.
Screen East
Screen East covers Bedfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk.
Screen East supports short film through its Digital Shorts scheme in partnership with the UK Film Council.
Screen South
Screen South coveres Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Channel Islands.
Screen South and the UK Film Council’s Digital Shorts Scheme has 2 tiers in the region – both are suitable for documentaries. Close Ups is geared towards new filmmakers making 1-3 minute shorts with a cash budget of £2250. Long Shots is for shorts of 5-10 minutes with a cash budget of £7250 and for filmmakers with a little more experience. For commissioned films and filmmakers, Screen South will also meet the costs of basic production insurance, training workshops, a script development executive, a production executive and an executive producer.
Screen West Midlands
Screen West Midlands covers Birmingham and The Black Country, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
Digital Shorts fund is for films which are under 10 minutes and made for a maximum of £9000. Filmmakers should have some experience and will be expected to submit previous work with the application. Digital Shorts Extreme is a next tier scheme designed to give further experience and development to filmmakers who have made a film through the digital shorts scheme already. One film per year will receive a max budget of £20,000 and also needs to be under 10 minutes’ (including all credits). If you are a brand new and inexperienced filmmaker in this region, don’t despair… Screen West Midlands also regularly support entry level funding schemes and production programmes in the region. Contact them for further info.
Screen Yorkshire
Screen Yorkshire covers Yorkshire and Humberside.
Low Budget Lottery Shorts is a fund for first- and second-time filmmakers only and will support up to 12 short films per year of under 10 minutes (max funding available is £2000). Up Short is a fund for one short film per year with up to a maximum of £20,000 contribution. This scheme is to support the career of directors who have preivously been commissioned by Screen Yorkshire, the UK Film Council, FilmFour or the BBC. Caught Short is a UK Film Council supported scheme, run in partnership with Screen Yorkshire. This year’s scheme has commissioned 8 short films, up to a maximum of ten minutes duration, on budgets of approximately £9,000.
South West Screen
South West Screen covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, and Gloucestershire.
South West Screen’s Digital Shorts programme commissions about 10 short films a year, all under 10 minutes and with budgets of up to £8000 each. The also fund one Digital Nation ( see UK Film Council) film per year which is open to filmmakers who have made a short through the Digital Shorts scheme (see UK Film Council).
Northern Film and Media
Northern Film and Media covers Durham, Tees Valley, Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Northern Film and Media run a two-tied digi shorts scheme in conjunction with the UK Film Council. All schemes are run on a call for custom essay writing applications basis so watch their website for details. Mini Stingers scheme is open to new and emerging filmmakers and funds 2-5 minute script that have the potential to become micro budget, interesting potentially experimental short films (documentaries are included). Successful applicants get to develop their scripts further with individual support from a professional script editor and training via the Short Course unit of the National Film & Television School(NFTS) before going into production. Each production will have an inclusive budget of not more than £2750. Stingers 5 is geared towards newer filmmakers with a track record of making shorts or related projects for another medium. They fund 10 minute custom essay screenplays that have the potential to become original, imaginative short films aimed at an international festival audience (again docs are considered). These filmmakers also receive development support and training through the NFTS. Each production will have an inclusive budget of not more than £10k.