SHORTFLIX is for aspiring filmmakers aged 18-25 who are not in full-time education, employment or training, and have an idea for a short film that tells their own story or that of their community, heritage, identity or area.
Applications are now open for SHORTFLIX, a new development and production programme offering ambitious young people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to make their first short film, which audiences will be able to watch through Sky Arts on demand platform.
Creative England, the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and Sky Arts are joining forces for this initiative, which will provide training and mentorship from industry professionals to ensure young filmmakers gain practical skills and experience as they take their first steps in the industry. Training is supported by the Creative Skillset’s Film Skills Fund, along with BFI’s Film Forever National Lottery funds.
Of the applicants, twenty projects will be selected for development from initial idea to script or outline stage. After the initial development period, five distinctive short films will be chosen to be produced, working with a professional producer, crew and budget of up to £10,000 each. The finished films will then be available to watch through Sky Arts on demand platform.
For young people interested in the programme, a series of roadshow events are taking place across several regions, where young filmmakers will be able to find out more and learn how to pitch their short film idea. The London roadshow takes place on 6th February, and the final roadshow will be held in Bristol on February 16.
Caroline Norbury, CEO of Creative England, said: “We’re delighted to be launching this programme, which provides an entry point into the film industry for talented and ambitious young people who might previously have found it impossible to take that first step. This is an important part of our mission to introduce new and diverse voices into the film industry, and support them in telling the story of their lives and culture. It is also a key element of Creative England’s ongoing relationship with Sky Arts, which supports television production from the English Regions.”
Paul Roseby, CEO and Artistic Director of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, added: “As the debate continues around the lack of equality and diversity in certain areas of the creative industries, we are proud at the National Youth Theatre of our continuing commitment to work with leading creatives to offer free alternatives to expensive formal training. Our mission is to discover Britain’s best raw young talent in all its diverse brilliance and put them in front of an audience and this important initiative will do both those things. This new exciting partnership is testament to our success reaching and connecting those most in need with life-changing opportunities.”
Philip Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts, said: “As the UK’s only dedicated arts channel, Sky Arts is committed to supporting creative people and original film-making. This partnership with Creative England and the National Youth Theatre will help to find and nurture the next generation of talent from a range of diverse backgrounds, giving them an exciting opportunity to tell their stories and showcase them through Sky Arts.”
The development programme for the shortlisted filmmakers will begin in April and run throughout 2017. The deadline for applications is 5pm on February 28, 2017.
For more details on how the programme will run and to apply, click here:
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