Explore below useful information covering a range of support for artists across art-forms including our calendar of external event and opportunities, information on funding bodies, networks, other creative organisations and much more – we do hope it’s a useful starting point and please do contact us via TalentDevelopment@homemcr.org if you have resources to add.
You can also find out about the artists we work with. Our regular Artist Spotlights discuss artists creative practices, inspirations and share some practical career advice.
Resources
Events & Opportunities from our friends
In reverse chronological order. Not all activities listed are free, click on the link for more info.
If you spot something of interest to fellow creatives or have an opportunity you’d like us to add, drop us an email.
NOV 2023
Manchester Animation Film Festival
Sun 12 – Fri 17 Nov
Manchester Animation Festival is the UK’s largest Animation Festival dedicated to celebrating the animated art form. Wether you’re an animation insider or just want to see something unique, join MAF for animated short competitions, feature films, retrospective screenings, workshops, networking events, panel discussions, masterclasses and screen talks from the industry’s finest. Oscar qualifying.
Aesthetica short film festival
Wed 8 – Sun 12 Nov
A celebration of independent films from around the world taking place in York, with films screenings in a vast array of genre, masterclass and talks from industry leaders in all aspects of filmmaking as well as networking events, pitching opportunities and more. BAFTA-Qualifying
OCT 2023
Bolton Film Festival
Wed 4 – Sun 8 Oct
Short film festival taking place in Bolton every October. Through its films, industry talks, masterclasses and networking sessions it aims to break open the door to a creative industry that many short filmmakers find difficult to access and navigate. BIFA and BAFTA Qualifying
AUG 2023
£10k Commission RHS BRIDGEWATER and LIGHTWAVES
Deadline: Fri 11 August
The call out is open to artists working in all mediums but must include light as part of the work and be suitable to present outdoors in winter.
British Independent Film Awards: British short film entry deadline
Fri 4 Aug
This is the last day to enter your short film (under 40 mins) for free for BIFA’s british short film award. Some criteria apply, please check before entering.
Call for proposals: Emergency 23
Deadline: Fri 4 Aug, 17:00
hÅb are looking for Live art/performance works to be presented at Manchester’s 23rd micro-marathon of the bizarre, the bold, and the beautiful at Contact theatre on Sat 30 Sep.
JUL 2023
DANC event: A masterclass on accessible marketing
Thu 27 Jul, 14:30
Online event. Are you a theatre maker looking to make you marketing materials more accessible to all audiences? Join Maisie Burn as she talks you through how to make your marketing accessible to audiences, including top tips and advice and plenty of time for question.
Roundhouse Film Fund
Deadline Mon 24 Jul, 10:00
£1000 plus lots of support for 3 emerging filmmakers to create new short films in any genre, under 5 minutes, that explore social and political issues from their unique perspectives. Open to emerging filmmaker aged 18 to 25 based within the Uk (but please note some of the resources will be in London).
Grey Moth x T A P E collective Non-Narrative/Non-Fiction Film Fund
Deadline Wed 19 Jul
£5,000 + bespoke production support + £2,500 kit hire credit + festival strategy towards one project challenging the conventional documentary format.
Let Artists be Artists fund
Deadline: Tue 18 Jul
Strike A Light are looking for 3 artists who’d be excited about making brilliant contemporary theatre, dance, performance in Gloucester to be employed for 2.5 years. This scheme is not about specific projects or show, it is about developing your practice and giving you the means to “just” be an artist.
Sky Documentaries Shorts Initiative
Deadline Mon 17 Jul, 23:50
A documentary shorts fund to inspire filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds providing up to £500,000 to fund several documentary shorts throughout the year, with a runtime of 10-30 minutes
Art for Change Prize
Deadline: Mon 17 July
Applications are now open for the free-to-enter Art for Change Prize, open to artists working in the first five years of their career. This year’s prize asks artists to creatively respond to the theme Regeneration. Five artist will receive £2,000 and one overall winner £10,000 and winning artists will also have the opportunity to exhibit their work at Saatchi Gallery in London.
Clermont Ferrand short film festival submission deadline
Deadline for submission: Sun 11 Jul
The Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival is one the most important short film event in the world and submissions are free!
Bankley Studio Open Call
Deadline Sun 9 Jul
Bankley Studios are inviting artists to apply to exhibit in their headline exhibition Bankley Open 2023. Submission can be from artists working in any discipline, at any point in their career. Approximately 15 artists will be chosen by their panel of judges to exhibit in the Bankley Open Exhibition, opening September 2023. First prize is a solo show at Bankley Studios + Gallery alongside a £300 cash prize and £200 production fee. The second prize is a £200 cash prize.
Paradise Works: Summer Open Studios 2023
Sat 8 Jul, 12:00-21:00
Paradise Works opens its doors for S.O.S, a Summer Open Studios event with exhibitions, tours and a party to coincide with the Manchester International Festival 2023, showcasing what local artistic talent the city has to offer with our community of contemporary visual artists.
Polari short film night
Fri 7 Jul, 18:30
Short film screening with panel discussion and networking at Colony in Manchester, this time focusing on short documentaries.
Film London Production Finance Market 2023
Deadline for applications: Thu 6 Jul
The Production Finance Market is an annual two-day financing event for independent film held during the BFI London Film Festival. The market connects filmmakers and financiers from across the globe through one-to-one meetings as a way to navigate potential business partners and investment. The main strand accommodates feature film projects from established producers, including Animation, with budgets above €1m, while the New Talent strand specifically targets filmmakers on their first feature. Documentaries are also welcome to apply and films reflecting a range of diverse perspectives and stories are positively encouraged.
JUN 2023
Triple C Access Coordinator Programme
Deadline Fri 30 Jun
A professional development programme for deaf, disabled, autistic and/or neurodivergent people to develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as an Access Coordinator on High End TV drama productions, including training, mentoring, placement and networking. Paid opportunity.
The Calling Card Script & The Writer’s Voice
Thu 29 Jun, 13:00 – 16:00
A webinar for aspiring scriptwriters in film, TV, theatre, and radio exploring the key ingredients and elements that make a calling card script compelling and attention-grabbing whilst making sure it showcases your unique voice.
MADE OF TRUTH: BFI Doc Society Short Film Fund
Deadline Tue 27 Jun, 12noon
Fund to support nonfiction from new and emerging storytellers from all across the UK. £Up to £25 K per projects between 5 & 40 mins in length. For all forms of short form non-fiction, including personal stories, hybrid work, artist films, essays, observational & social issue projects as well as VR and immersive projects
Introduction to Short Screenwriting
Mon 26 Jun, 18:00 – Online
Beth McCann (Scriptwriting North) explains how to perfect the three-act structure and one-page pitch.
Bolton Film Festival final submission deadline
Tue 20 Jun
Last chance to enter your short film to be considered for Bolton Film Festival
Phoebe Frances Brown Film Fund
Deadline: Fri 16 Jun
A £1000 grant for an up and coming female filmmaker with a comedy idea they want to produce.
Sheffield Doc Fest
Wed 14 – Mon 19 Jun
The Uk biggest documentary festival is on with plenty of films, talks and events.
Call for submission – Mosh Film Fest
Deadline Fri 9 Jun
The festival dedicated to celebrating the diverse world of heavy metal music through the lens of cinema is looking for all types of moving image entries – including documentaries, feature films, short films, music videos, archive films, animation, web series and TV pilots – to create a fun, loud and inclusive space for fans of every genre of metal music and film from all backgrounds
Kino Shorts
Thu, 8 Jun, 19:15
Kinofilm Festival Manchester presents a bi-monthly short film and networking event for Manchester, North West and Northern England filmmakers at minicine, Ducie Street Warehouse, Manchester
Emerging Film Curators Lab 2023
Deadline: Tue 6 Jun, 17:00
The Barbican are looking for film curators (individuals, or collectives of up to three people) aged over 18, from a range of backgrounds and contexts, with limited cinema programming experience, who are interested in developing socially engaged, inclusive film events focusing on the theme of ‘Change’ (see detailed brief below) to participate in the Film Curator Lab.
Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards
Deadline Mon 5 Jun
Do you dream of having your stories played on TV? Submit your work for the chance to break into the industry through a placement with a production company, mentoring & a £3k bursary.
Deadline Mon 5 Jun
An intensive, 3-day course where you’ll find your filmmaking voice and gain practical experience with cast and crew.
Script Lab
Deadline Mon 5 Jun
A 6-month course supporting filmmakers to hone their screenwriting craft and turn short film ideas into completed scripts.
MAY 2023
Documentary Development Opportunity
Deadline Sun 14 May
For early-stage projects seeking development funding and support and open to Directors who have made at least one documentary for theatrical release or broadcast television, BBC Storyville Early Stage Development Pitch will take place at Sheffield Doc Fest and includes money, commissioner support and introduction to production company.
Filmmaker mixer in Liverpool
Wed 17 May, 18:00
BFI NETWORK Filmmaker Mixers, the informal meet-ups for filmmakers based in the North of England are coming to FACT in May
Northern Exposure Young Film Programmers
Deadline: Fri 19 May
A new training scheme for young people who are passionate about film and looking to get into the film industry and will take over the programming of Northern Exposure, Film Hub North’s short film night, which showcases the best of Northern filmmaking.
FLAMIN Animations
Deadline: Mon 22 May
A commissioning programme for early-career black-identifying artist animators living in the UK, including £2,500 to create a new animation, mentoring opportunities and development support.
General Resources
Artist Make Packs
These packs were commissioned for the Manchester Open 2022 but still remain relevant if you are looking for some advice or inspiration.
Artist Spotlights
