We're so proud of BFI NETWORK Alum Thea Gajić's debut feature, Surviving Earth produced by Aleksandra Bilić and Sophie Reynolds, which arrives in cinemas today!
Surviving Earth was supported by the BFI NETWORK Early Development Fund in 2018 with @film_london . Now, you can catch it on the big screen at cinemas across London and Bristol.
👉 Swipe to see where it’s showing near you!
Based on a true story, Surviving Earth follows Vlad, a Yugoslav refugee and gifted musician who fled to the UK in the 90s. Now rebuilding his life in Bristol, he longs to be the father his daughter Maria deserves, but the shadows of his past refuse to fade.
When he forms a band to reconnect with his roots, music becomes his lifeline—a fragile bridge between who he was and who he wants to be. But as difficulties arise and old habits resurface, Vlad risks losing it all. Can he find redemption through love and music, or will the past drag him down once more?
A powerful debut feature from writer-director Thea Gajić, Surviving Earth announces the arrival of a bold and exciting new voice in contemporary British cinema.
'Well, that's quite a story'
Our brand new showreel just dropped 🎬
We’re proud to support, develop and fund early career writers, directors and producers across the UK.
Want to stay in the loop on funding calls, talent development labs and creative opportunities? Sign up to our newsletter — link in bio.
🎤 Pass the mic
Ahead of our BFI NETWORK Midlands Short Film Showcase at Flatpack Festival, we took a look at last years ultra talented panel with:
@taylahalfacre@georgiecowanturnerdirector@simi.notes@jameswilliammellors@qianhui_yuu
📢 Be some of the first people to see new UNRELEASED work supported by BFI NETWORK in the Midlands. Proving, you don’t need Hollywood to make great films 🏆
PLUS, our BFI NETWORK Talent Executive will be there!
🎬 BFI NETWORK Midlands Short Films x Flatpack Festival PANEL + Q&A
📆 15 May
🕑 2 PM - 3:30 PM
📍The Mockingbird, Birmingham @mockbirdcinema
🎟 Find out more and book at flatpackfestival.org.uk
#proudlymidlandsmade
We’re celebrating the incredible BFI NETWORK shorts showcase at the UK Pavilion in Cannes this month! This showcase highlights six bold emerging voices in the UK film industry, featuring:
BLACKWOOL
Writer-Director: Eubha Akilade
Producers: Sophie Chater, Jack Gemmell
BRAIN SPACE
Writer-Director: Laura Tofarides
Producer: Nia Alavezos
PUREBRED
Writer-director: Caleb J Roberts
Producers: Jon Beer
THE LAUNCH
Director: Steven Olugbenga Eniraiyetan
Writer: Grace Okyere-Fosu
Producers: Danielle Goff, Grace Okyere-Fosu
TOAD IN THE HOLE
Writer-Director: Ben Norris
Producer: Lionelle Galloppa
TRACES
Writer-Director: Tilly Wallace
Producer: Markus Ovre
Catch the screenings at the UK Pavilion on 13, 14, 19, and 20 May. Don't miss the chance to see the work of these rising stars!
Link in bio!
🎞️ North Star Shorts applications are open!
Supported by Screen Scotland and BFI NETWORK, six short films by early career talent will be awarded production funding of £25,000 plus an additional £3,000 will be available to support development.
North Star Shorts is open for both live action and animation projects by Scotland-based filmmakers.
The deadline to apply is Friday 19th June @ 23:59. Full guidelines and application details can be found via the link in our bio.
We're really excited to launch this one-off online masterclass with Thea Gajic, the writer-director behind Surviving Earth, on Thu 14 May 12:00-13:00. In this session we’ll explore how to develop stories rooted in lived experience, and how to thoughtfully incorporate real-life material into your filmmaking.
This masterclass is designed for filmmakers who want to draw on their own experiences while maintaining a strong and flexible development process, equipping you with practical tools to bring personal-inspired stories to the screen.
Please note, you must be 18+, out of full-time education and based in the south west of England to attend.
Sign up via the link in our bio, tickets are selling fast so grab yours now!
@yarnsfilm is back with their short film competition and a new creative brief: Nostalgia.
They're asking filmmakers to explore their relationship with the past — how memory shapes the stories we tell, and how looking back can comfort, distort, or redefine the present and future.
From old passions to old versions of ourselves, from cultural revivals to personal histories, nostalgia is everywhere. The further we move forward, the more we seem to circle back.
Yarns is inviting unsigned filmmakers to respond with bold, original ideas for a 5 minute short film.
Three selected directors will receive £2,000 funding and full industry support from pre-production to post-production, working with leading partners to bring their films to life.
Deadline: Thursday 21 May
Read the full brief on their website.
Link in bio 🔗
Calling writers working in animation!
Four BFI NETWORK Hubs (@filmhubsw , @filmhubnorth , @networkfhm , @networkfhse ) have teamed up with ScreenSkills Animation Fund (@uk_screenskills ) to create this new lab for writers to develop, experiment and expand their skills and understanding of storytelling in animation.
The lab will support up to 12 early-career writers already working in animation, or with the ambition to write for animation. With a range of speakers and masterclasses on subjects such as structure, collaboration and audience, the lab will offer tangible and practical insights to the exciting visual potential of animation storytelling. Applicants must apply with a short film idea, and selected writers will then work with a script editor to develop it during the lab.
The lab will run from Mon 29 June to Wed 30 Sep. The lab will take place mostly online with one in-person day at Aardman in Bristol (reasonable travel expenses will be covered). Applications are now open and will close on Mon 11 May. Find out more through the link in our bio.
Image credit: Traces dir. Tilly Wallace (funded by @bfinetworkfhse )
The BFI NETWORK England Short Film Fund is a fantastic opportunity for early career filmmakers. To help you navigate the application process, we've curated a comprehensive toolkits and online resources.
Inside, you’ll find:
📂 BFI NETWORK Online Resources
This is your go-to for the "nuts and bolts" of your application. It includes:
✅ Official Funding Guidelines (a must-read!)
✅ Application FAQs to answer your trickiest questions
✅ Essential templates for budgets and schedules
✅ Guidance on the creative priorities of the fund
🛠️ Filmmaking Toolkits
Once you have the basics, use these toolkits to elevate your production standards:
✅ Short Film Toolkit: Insights from over 40 industry experts on the journey from script to screen.
✅ Insight Producer’s Toolkit: Specifically designed for emerging producers.
✅ Sustainability & Inclusion: Use the BAFTA albert and Transforming Film toolkits to ensure your production is responsible and representative.
✅ Well-being: The Whole Picture toolkit helps you prioritise mental health for your entire crew.
Whether you are a director, producer, or writer, these resources are designed to help your project stand out.
Check the link in bio to access resources and toolkits.
A few weeks ago, we teamed up with @bfinetwork and @iconoclast.tv to host a mixer event at the Woodseer venue (Iconoclast’s studios).
It was great to see so many new faces turn up and to meet some of you for the first time. We hope the event was a positive experience and helped spark momentum for your film projects.
🟠The BFI NETWORK England Short Film Fund is currently open for applications until 18 March at 11am for those looking to apply.
🟠Filmmakers interested in showcasing their short films on our platform and at future events can submit via the link in our bio.
Thank you to our drinks and snacks sponsors @noam_official & @proper
#minuteshorts #bfinetwork #shortfilms #indiefilms
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Applications for the BFI NETWORK England Short Film Fund are now open!
Filmmaking teams with a director based in England are eligible to apply for £5,000- £25,000 to produce original fiction shorts in live action, animation and VR/Immersive formats.
Deadline: Wed 18 March at 11:00am
Read or listen to the fund guidelines 🔗👉 linktr.ee/bfinetwork
#nationallottery #shortfilm
