BFI NETWORK South East: Creative Production Weekender

Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September 2023

Our Creative Production Weekender aims to discover a cohort of emerging producing talent, who are interested in developing their skills as creative producers and applying to future rounds of the BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund.

Taking place over the course of one weekend this September (23rd – 24th), the programme is open to aspiring, early-career producers, based in the South East of England (as defined by the BFI). We are particularly interested in candidates who might not yet identify as a producer but who have the relevant transferable skills.

The 10-12 selected participants will attend two days of masterclasses, workshops, case studies and practical activities — on identifying and collaborating with writers/directors, communication and resilience, budgeting and finance plans, legals and contracting, and how to produce a BFI NETWORK-supported short — at the Independent Cinema Office in London Bridge and over Zoom. Participants will leave with a greater awareness of how to establish themselves as a producer and successfully manage a short film production.

Fees
It is free to participate in the programme and we will also cover travel costs to and from the venue.

Venue
Independent Cinema Office, London Bridge (Day One) and Zoom (Day Two)

Applications to this programme are now closed

Programme Timeline

  • Monday 19 June 2023: Open for applications
  • Tuesday 27 June 2023: Online information session
  • Friday 14 July 2023: Applications close
  • Monday 14 August 2023: Participants shortlisted for interview and initial declines sent out
  • w/c 21 August 2023: Shortlist interviews conducted
  • Monday 28 August 2023: Cohort confirmed
  • Monday 4 September 2023: Cohort announced
  • Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September 2023: Creative Production Weekender

Additional/Optional

  • Wednesday 27 September – Sunday 1 October 2023 (specific date TBC): Industry Meet-Up at Encounters Film Festival in Bristol, with South West Producers Cohort
  • Monday 23 October: Industry Meet-Up at Cambridge Film Festival

Who is this programme for?

We’re looking for people with the ambition to be film producers. The ideal Creative Production Weekender candidate will have good communication skills, a commitment to storytelling and the ability to work collaboratively.

To be eligible for the programme you must:

  • Have an interest in producing the work of others
  • Be over 18 and not in full-time education
  • Have a passion for cinema and an idea about what stories you want to tell
  • Be based in the South East of England (as defined by the BFI, please note this does not include London)
  • Be able to attend both sessions: the in-person event in London on Saturday and the Zoom 

You do not need to have produced a short film before, however we will be assessing applications based on proven commitment to storytelling and/or working in production.

Online information session

6pm, Tuesday 27 June

If you’d like to know more about the Creative Production Weekender we’re hosting an online information session on Tuesday 27 June with our colleagues from BFI NETWORK South West, where you can ask any questions you may have about the programme.

You can sign up for the information session here.

How to apply

Complete the application form at the bottom of this page by 5pm, Friday 14 July 2023. You may also attach video or sound recordings in place of text when submitting this form.

As part of your application, please also complete a Diversity Monitoring Form. We’re collecting this information to help us evaluate our work to increase diversity and inclusivity in the sector. The information you provide here will be anonymous and won’t be connected to or identifiable with your application.

Before applying, please ensure you have read through the Who is this programme for? section above and that you fulfill the criteria.

Please note: you will not receive a confirmation email on completion of the application form. After submitting the form, please scroll back down to the bottom of this page where you’ll find a message confirming your application.

If you need any support in completing your application, or have any queries about the application process or your eligibility, please contact us at: bfinetwork@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk


 

Applications are now closed for this programme.

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