- Outside the UK Film Council, are there any other schemes that exist to help fund short films?
BRITISH COUNCIL FILM FUND:
The British Council Film Department promotes contemporary and innovative UK film to audiences around the world. It works in both lead and supporting roles on showcases, workshops, festivals, conferences, tours, residences and virtual projects. They also collaborate with artists and other cultural organisations to build skills, capacity and cultural awareness, create access to audiences and markets, and promote international partnership and creative exchange.
The BCFD works in over 70 countries as part of their global network. They aim to help build and develop relationships between the UK and other countries to create mutual understanding. Also, they want to challenge stereotypes and out of date perceptions of the UK, whilst promoting UK creativity, and presenting all of its diversity and multicultural society.
Geographical priorities have been decided by the council. At present these are: the Islamic world, China, EU accession countries and new member states, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Film Department has a main target audience of young adults (16 – 35). However, they often engage with both older and younger audiences depending on the population demographic of the particular country. To reach these international audiences, film festivals are sometimes the only method for feature films, but mainly short films. It has proven an effective way in some countries of reaching large numbers of the desired audience, which regularly refreshes their perceptions of the UK.
The British Council Film Department does not provide funding for filmmakers. However, they select new UK short films to promote at international festival screenings, and organise UK stands at key film markets, which helps to endorse UK filmmakers.
Although the British Council is not a funding body, they do offer support for filmmakers through the Short Film Promotion Scheme. They promote selected films to the 48 major international film festivals they work with, including Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, and Venice.
For the film to be eligible for this fund, it must be less than 45 minutes, recent (not over a year), and from the UK. Applicants send their film on DVD with a completed copy of the submission form. British Council film advisors then view the film and send notification of a decision, either way.
CROYDON FILM AND VIDEO AWARDS:
Three annual awards of £1,300 are available to filmmakers that live, work, or study in Croydon.
MEDIABOX:
Mediabox is a Department for Children, Schools and Families Fund to help young people have a positive voice in the media. It offers disadvantaged 13-19 year olds the opportunity to develop and produce creative media projects, using film, print, television, radio or online platforms. There are grants of up to £40,000 available.
