2.Main Content
Digi Shorts
SCHEMES
The Digital Shorts scheme is an annual nationwide programme initiated by the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund, with each region adding its own specific twist on the scheme as a whole. The schemes are based in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and are largely operated by the Regional Screen Agencies, plus there are several extra schemes, looking to give additional support to filmmakers from the UK's black and minority ethnic communities, and to disabled filmmakers.
The scheme as a whole is overseen by Lifesize Pictures.
The Digital Shorts Schemes across the country for 2009/10 were launched during Autumn 2009 and filmmakers are currently being selected. For details on how to apply to make a Digital Short in your area in future, please contact the appropriate organisation listed below.
UK-WIDE
Blank Slate
Operated by B3 Media, Blank Slate scheme supports the next generation of filmmaking talent from the UK's black and minority ethnic communities. B3 Media invites submissions from writers, directors and writer/directors from across the UK to find 5 filmmaking teams to produce a cutting-edge short film, shot and edited digitally. Those filmmakers will also be given bespoke training in the development of their idea from script to screen.
For full details see www.b3media.net or contact Dom Oliver on 020 7274 2121 or email projects@b3media.net
Application Deadline: 30 November
The Magic Hour
A new scheme for 2008/09, The Magic Hour aims to create opportunities for disabled filmmaking talent with daring and challenging stories to tell. Operated by 104 films the scheme plans to fund 4 films with a budget of £8,000 per film and 1 animated film in collaboration with 4-mations with a budget of £13,000.
For full details see www.104films.com
Application Deadline: 8 January 2010
ENGLAND
East Midlands
EM Media's DV Shorts scheme supports East Midland's based filmmakers.
For more details see www.em-media.org.uk or contact Sally Hodgson on 0115 934 9090 or email sally.hodgson@em-media.org.uk
Application Deadline: 5 October
East of England
For filmmakers living in the East of England, Screen East runs a two-level Digital Shorts scheme; DigiBytes under which eight projects will be developed, of which five will be produced. Four of those films are awarded a cash budget of up to £10,500 and one film a cash budget of up to £15,000. In addition a sixth film is being commissioned under the new animation strand 4Mations. The second part of the scheme, Digital Nation (formerly Digital Shorts Plus), is an opportunity to join a nationwide talent pool and participate in an extensive tailored development process designed to hone your script and your filmmaking talent. At the end of the development process six films will be selected to be made at budgets of between £18,000 and £20,000.
For full details see www.screeneast.co.uk or call Sam Burton on 01603 776 920 or simply email production@screeneast.co.uk
Application Deadline: October
London
Film London offers a two part Digital Shorts scheme. PULSE is open to new talent in the London region and offers film-makers an opportunity to make digital shorts for a variety of exhibition and distribution platforms. At least 5 films are being commissioned for 2008/09 with a budget range of £4,000-£12,000. This year Film London has partnered with Film London Artist's Moving Image Network (FLAMIN) to include applications from artist filmmakers.
The second Film London strand is Digital Nation which replaces PULSE PLUS for writers and directors who are ready to make the leap into more ambitious cinematic short films with a maximum production budget of £18,000.
For full details see www.filmlondon.org.uk or call Josic Cadoret on 020 7613 7676 or email production@filmlondon.org.uk
Application Deadline: 24 August
North of England
North West Vision Media launched a new Digital Shorts filmmaking scheme offering an excellent opportunity for filmmakers across the Northwest to make innovative and exciting short films.
For full details see www.northwestvision.co.uk or email tarac@visionandmedia.co.uk or jennyh@visionandmedia.co.uk, or call 0870 609 4481
Application Deadline: 4 November
North East
Northern Film and Media's digi shorts scheme is the two-tier Stingers scheme which provides writers, directors and writer/directors with the opportunity to see their work on screen whilst developing their professional experience by working with a production company in the North East region. Mini Stingers is aimed at new and emerging writers and directors whilst Maxi Stingers is aimed at writers and directors with some professional experience.
For full details see www.northernmedia.org or contact Victoria Johnson on 0191 269 9219 or email victoria@northernmedia.org
Application Deadline: 29 October
South of England
Screen South have commissioned 6 digital films, under different sections: Long Shots (2x10 min films with production cash budgets of £9,700 each and 1x 5-10 min film with a production cash budget of £6,000); Close Ups (2x 2-5 min films and 1-3 min films with a cash budget of £2,800 each). One further film is being made under the 4Mations strand (see above).
For details see www.screensouth.org.uk or contact Clare Bradfield on 01303 259777 or email info@screensouth.org
Application Deadline: 23 October
South West
South West Screen's Digital Shorts scheme supports a mix of shorts (maximum 15 minutes duration for live action and documentary, and maximum five minutes duration for animation) from filmmakers based in the South West. Budgets range from £7,000-£17,000 for projects suitable for a range of distribution platforms.
For full details see www.swscreen.co.uk or call Sarah-Jane Meredith on 0117 952 9977 or email sarah-jane@swscreen.co.uk
Application Deadline: 11 December
West Midlands
Screen WM's digishorts scheme offers the chance to develop and produce a short film with support with a budget of up to £10,000.
The scheme is open to West Midlands filmmakers with at least one short film on a showreel already, or moving image artists, designers, animators etc with at least one equivalent piece of work to view. From all applications submitted a selected shortlist of up to 25 projects is being developed,before a final 6 projects will be produced.
For full details see www.screenwm.co.uk - or call Amy Newbury on 0121 265 7120 or email production@screenwm.co.uk.
Application Deadline: 9 November
Yorkshire and Humberside
Screen Yorkshire is commissioning a total of ten films over two years under the Caught Short strand. In year one (2008), six films will be commissioned (with one of these six films commissioned under 4MATIONS - see above). In year two (2009) four films will be commissioned on budgets of £16,000.
Digital Nation(formerly Digital Shorts Plus) is an opportunity to join a nationwide talent pool and participate in an intensive tailored development process designed to hone your script and your voice as a filmmaker. At the end of this development process Screen Yorkshire will choose 6 films, each to be made at a budget of £18,000-£20,000. For full details see www.screenyorkshire.co.uk or call Francesca Riley, Production Coordinator on 0113 294 4410 or email francesca@screenyorkshire.co.uk
Application Deadline: 7 September
NORTHERN IRELAND
Northern Ireland Screen has recently launched a Digital Shorts Scheme for filmmakers in Northern Ireland. There are three main strands: Digital Shorts which will see eight projects selected to go through an initial development process for a £10,000 short. Digital Nation (formerly Digital Shorts Plus) for filmmakers who are ready to make the leap to more ambitious cinematic short films with budgets from £18,000-£20,000.
For full details see www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk or contact Christine Morrow, Short Film Coordinator on 028 9026 8573 or email christine@northernirelandscreen.co.uk
Application Deadline: mid October
SCOTLAND
For filmmakers in Scotland, DigiCult launched two new programme strands: Scottish Digital Shorts 2009 which will produce six short films with a maximum budget of £16,000, and Digital Nation, designed for filmmakers ready to make the leap to more ambitious cinematic short films, which will produce twelve films over two years, with budgets from £18,000-£20,000.
For more information call Ciara Barry on 0141 221 5290 or see www.digicult.co.uk
Application Deadline: 11 November
WALES
For filmmakers in Wales, Digital Shorts Wales 2010
offers Writers, Writer/Directors or Writer and Director teams with a great script for a short film the chance to get firmly on the UK’s talent radar. A slate of up to 5 digital short films will be produced running between 5 and 12 minutes, from a shortlist of 12 projects selected for development. The 5 films commissioned will have budgets of between £7,000 and £13,000.
For more details of the scheme - and how to apply - go to:
www.digitalshortswales.co.uk - or email kylie@digitalshortswales.co.uk with any specific queries.
Application Deadline: 5pm, Monday 16th November