Skip to content

Growing your network & finding collaborators – Filmmakers

One of the question I get asked the most is where can I meet other filmmakers?

In general, I’d advise to go to film nights where the filmmakers are in attendance – such festival with events and networking opportunities – or find meet ups, groups and organisations – formal or informal – aimed at supporting filmmakers. Plus, you might want to check online communities and membership organisations. And if you are after specific people, why not find films that correspond to what you want to achieve, look at the credits, find their details online and see if you can meet up?

To help you on the way, I put together a (non exhaustive) list that might be useful.

Given our location and our remit we are mainly listing things that are taking place in the North West and the wider North (when in person). Further afield, we are listing places that filmmakers told us were useful to go to.

Please note: this is a listing of regular event and places. We list one off events in the section called “Calendar/ Events & Opportunities from our friends” on our resource page. There are plenty of cross discipline opportunities too but for this time we’ll concentrate on places for people involved in film related activities.

We don’t pretend to know everything so if  we have forgotten places or if you would like to share some of your tips with other filmmakers, don’t hesitate to let us know and we’ll add them to the list!

Isabelle – Artist Development Programme Manager (Film & Digital)

AT HOME

  • Filmed Up (HOME’s quarterly short film night)

HOME’s quarterly short film night, you can enter your film or come and watch films and chat to the filmmakers afterwards. Open to films of all genre under 20 mins where the writer, director or producer currently lives in the North West. Screenings are in March, June, September and December. Deadline for submissions are usually 2 to 3 month beforehand

  • Filmmakers meet up

Roughly every 3 months, on a month when we don’t have a Filmed Up screening.  Open to all in the filmmaking community, expression of interest required. Publicised on our Artist Development events page

HOME’s various events that could be of interest (meet up, workshops etc) are always on this page homemcr.org/talent-development and of course we also screen lots of films and have lots of guests who come as part of our cinema programme

FESTIVALS

The UK’s leading documentary festival. Shorts and features screenings, a whole host of events, talks, pitches, film market.

Short film screenings + lots of events and networking

The UK biggest animation festival. Lots of screenings, events, workshops, making offs and networking.

Short film festival with lots of screenings, masterclasses, events, networking

Several festivals: International in Nov,  Indis (16/25 year old creatives) in March and Young Film (children and families).

Screenings and events across 2 weeks, including networking event for Lancashire/Cumbria filmmakers

Screenings, talks and events focused on women and non binary creatives

 

SHORT FILM NIGHT AND MEET UPS

  • Independent Film Cooperative – Manchester

Regular networking events and socials, screenings and filmmaking challenges, mainly at 53Two. All events & free tickets on EventBrite: ifc-mcr Instagram @indiefilm_mcr

Monthly short film screenings (first Sunday of the month) at Ducie Street Warehouse

 KinoFilm – Manchester

Regular short films screenings, usually with Q&As and towards the end of the month. Mostly taking place at Ducie Street Warehouse.

The main public body for film funding and administer the short film fund for the North, they also organise mixers, roundtables, training and more. They also organise a touring programme of Northern shorts called Northern Exposures.

  • Manchester Screenwriting Meet Up 

Scripts read out, feedback, discussing the craft of screenwriting, Q&As with pros. In person and on Zoom. For info and to be put on their mailing list get in touch with them by email on mcrscreenwriting@gmail.com

Monthly screenings of shorts in Sheffield, networking meetings and more..

NETWORKS AND MEMBERSHIP ORGANISATION

Online community of independent filmmakers

The Queer Filmmakers Network aims to connect, support and champion LGBTQIA+ Filmmakers via networking events, talks and screenings and active peer group.

  • RTS (Royal Television Society)

Educational charity promoting the art and science of television, events, networking, bursaries and more..

Arts charity celebrating film, games and TV is what we do. Career development, events, opportunities, membership, bursaries and resources.

membership organisation for women working in creative media in the UK. Online and in-person events, professional development schemes and more.

ONLINE/ Facebook groups

Women Camera Collective Facebook Group  – Facebook Group for women from all genres in TV and film, based in Manchester

Manchester Filmmakers network group

 Liverpool Film Makers

Northern Freelance TV Production staff

Yorkshire Film & TV Network