To coincide with the upcoming launch of the BFI NETWORK Early Development Fund, we’re hosting a series of online masterclasses to help you make sure your submission stands out!
The Early Development Fund supports feature-length projects by new writers based in the South East region. In this context, ‘new writers’ are people who have not yet written a feature film script that has been produced and distributed. As well as writers, this fund is also for producers and directors working with new writers. It supports people at the very beginning of their development process to produce an initial treatment and related materials.
Ahead of the Fund’s launch, we’ve organised a series of online events to help you prepare for your application. Registration for each event is handled separately and you can attend as many or as few as you’d like. Please read on for full details.
Programme
All sessions will take place online via Zoom
Treatment Development
11am - 12:30pm, Tuesday 17 October
We are joined by writer and director Jess Dadds and animation writer-director Astrid Goldsmith to discuss their Early Development Fund treatments. This will be a unique opportunity to hear about their creative process, but also to learn more about the fund and their experience of developing their ideas. This will be followed by a Q&A led by BFI NETWORK Talent Executive Thomas Wightman.
The Art of the Treatment
11am - 12pm, Thursday 19 October
The process of writing and developing a treatment is very personal, but whether you’re pitching to directors, producers or investors a treatment can really entice people onto your project. In this session, Trey Thomas will discuss what a treatment is and what to include when creating it, the differences between decks for shorts and features, and general advice to help you avoid the pitfalls and create a winning deck.
Online Filmmaker Roundtables
Monday 30 October (12pm - 1pm) & Monday 6 November (6pm - 7pm)
Each of these roundtables will be hosted by our BFI NETWORK Talent Executives and involve up to 20 local filmmakers. These will be informal, conversational sessions primarily for creatives who want to discuss their early-stage feature film ideas.
Projects must be at the pre-script stage and these sessions are specifically for talent based in the South East of England.
Speakers
Astrid Goldsmith
Animation Writer-Director
Astrid Goldsmith is an animation writer-director who specialises in puppet stop-motion. In 2012 she set up Mock Duck Studios in her garage in Folkestone, and has since made a string of award-winning short films. Her work has competed at festivals around the world, and in 2018 Astrid was selected for the BFI/BBC4 Animation talent scheme. Quarantine, her film about Morris-dancing badgers, was broadcast on BBC4, won the Best Animated Film Award at LSFF, and was the third most-watched free film on BFI Player in 2020. Her latest film, Red Rover, won Best Animated Film at Sitges 2020, and was Oscar long-listed. Mock Duck’s commercial work includes the Duracell Bunny, a belligerent troll for Nike, a cyclops elephant for Ford Fiesta, a sexy worm for Trolli, and many music videos. Astrid is part of the writing team for a Netflix animated series, and is currently working on an AR live action/animation hybrid project.
Jess Dadds
Writer/Director
Jess Dadds is a writer/director based in London. Jess’ latest short “I am good at karate” was awarded a Special Mention at Encounters Film Festival due to how the film “explores the complex intersections of class, mental health and coming of age with a self assured visual style”. Jess’ work has screened at various BAFTA and Academy Award qualifying festivals such as Oberhausen, Montreal Du Nouveau (FNC), LSFF as well as institutions and events such as London Fashion Week, Turner Contemporary and GoMA. Jess is currently in early development of his first feature project, supported by BFI NETWORK.
Trey Thomas
Creative Researcher
As a Creative Researcher, Trey Thomas plays a pivotal role in the film and TV production process, specialising in image research and treatment design. Their expertise lies in translating ideas into captivating visual narratives, breathing life into the creative visions of directors and producers. At Pulse Films, Trey Thomas is not just a researcher; they are a key collaborator in the early stages of production, helping to shape and refine concepts from their very inception. Their ability to weave together the threads of imagination, culture, and technology has contributed to the success of numerous projects, setting new standards in storytelling and visual aesthetics.
Thomas Wightman
BFI NETWORK Talent Executive
Prior to this role, Tom worked at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) where he managed STOP PLAY RECORD, a London-wide commissioning programme for emerging filmmakers, from 2015 to 2018; during which time he commissioned, developed and executive produced 72 short films made by filmmakers aged 16-24 for Channel 4’s Random Acts series. The programme also provided free monthly workshops for young people interested in all aspects of filmmaking. Previously Tom also worked for the BBC and gained independent commissions as a Producer and Director in film and visual arts.
Nicole Davis
BFI NETWORK Talent Executive
Nicole studied Film & Literature at Warwick University before starting her career in marketing for a video-on-demand platform. Prior to joining the BFI NETWORK team at the ICO, Nicole has worked at the BFI, Creative Europe Desk UK, Film4 and as a producer at digital content agency Little Dot Studios where she produced podcasts on documentary filmmaking and anime and a video essay series for Prime Video UK. She is also a podcast host and interviews women working in the film industry for Best Girl Grip and works as a freelance writer.