NEW VOICES: 2023 BFI x Watershed

Photograph by: @Tameishacreates_ - Instagram

WHAT IS NEW VOICES ABOUT?

New Voices is a three-month talent development scheme for underrepresented voices in the southwest of England. Seeking writer-directors with a short film idea but need some support to develop their script, build their confidence in the craft and prepare them to apply for BFI NETWORK funding. This is the scheme's third round, and they are proudly working with partners Blak Wave Productions, Little By Little Films and Grey Moth. New Voices will run from Mon 11 Sep to Mon 11 Dec 2023.

Shantí made the final selection and was 1 out of 8 participants.

WHAT THIS WILL MEAN FOR FILMMAKING?

At the end of the scheme, the founder of Brownstone Studios Shantí (Formally, Shannon George) will be eligible to secure funding to produce a short film with a £10,000 budget.

additional perks:

• In-person and online workshops delivered by our two BFI NETWORK Talent Executives and industry specialists, covering subjects such as applying for BFI NETWORK funding, script editing and finding your path in the industry.

• Three mentoring sessions with one of our scheme partners.

• Three script-development sessions with a professional script editor, who will help progress their short film idea to a polished script.  

• The opportunity to workshop their script with trained actors, delivered in partnership with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

• A Q&A session with a previous New Voices participant.

• Access to our in-person networking mixer.

• Peer-to-peer sharing and plenty of new creative contacts.

This scheme runs every year and are looking for new writer-directors to open up industry doors and make great films. Keep a look out on our website for more information!