Rob Munday
Diversity in the film industry has been a much-discussed topic in 2016; from the #OscarsSoWhite campaign to The Wrap’s investigation into Female Directors to the guide we put together for female filmmakers—‘Women Filmmakers Guide: Resources for Funding, Mentorships, Festivals, and More’. Though this isn’t “news” to many in the industry, it’s about time something was done about it and two organisations looking to make a difference and help balance the scales are the BFI and Encounters Short Film & Animation Festival with their competition Widening the Lens.
“As a response to the current issue of a lack of diversity within the film industry both in front of and behind the camera, and with the support of the BFI Diversity Fund, Encounters Festival has created a brilliant opportunity for new and emerging filmmmakers from under-represented groups to take part in a pitching competition at the 2016 festival.”
Three Women Wait For Death (dir. Isabelle Sieb)
With a deadline set for August 31st, all shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend the Encounters Festival 2016 for workshops and mentorship. Winners will receive cash prizes up to £1500 and crowd-funding support, plus the overall winner gets a trip to the prestigious Clermont Ferrand Film Festival. If you’re a UK filmmaker from any of the identified underrepresented groups (Filmmakers from a BAME background, Filmmakers with disabilities, LGBT+ Filmmakers, Female Filmmakers) and have a short film idea which addresses the issue of diversity on screen through a creative approach, apply now.
Awards will be handed out at the 22nd edition of the Encounters Film Festival, which takes place in Bristol, UK, running from 20-25th September and features work from top SOTW alum’s Réka Bucsi, Duncan Cowles, Tomek Ducki, Simon Ellis, The Brothers Lynch, Luca Toth and Péter Vácz.