Creative England today announced plans to continue their successful collaboration with leading young people's theatre organisation NYT and global broadcaster Sky on the short film initiative SHORTFLIX. With applications due to open again this autumn, the programme will open its doors to the UK's undiscovered and ambitious filmmaking talent from diverse backgrounds with a story to tell about their community, heritage and identity, giving them the opportunity to make their first short film.
SHORTFLIX will be open for applications to young people aged 18-25 who are not currently in full-time education, employment or training, as the programme addresses the issue of equal opportunities within the creative industries. It draws on the expertise, network and experience of leading industry experts and stakeholders to take a longlist of projects selected for development from initial idea to script or outline stage, leading to five original short films being selected for production and broadcast to UK audiences.
SHORTFLIX first launched in March 2017 and the five talented winners' unique and personal projects will be made into short films for Sky Arts with a budget of £10,000 each. These include: Dior Clarke & Blain Ho-Shing with BATTY BOY, an uncompromising look at black gay culture in London; Abena Taylor-Smith's film LADIES DAY, a warm-hearted story about a young black woman coming out against the backdrop of an Afro-Caribbean hair-shop in Sheffield; LOSING IT by Ben Robins, a pitch black sex-comedy; NOSEBLEED by Hollie Moore, an art-house psycho-drama about a toxic female friendship; and TOGETHER, THEY SMOKE by Henry Gale, a tragi-comedy set in Bath about coping with terminal illness in surprising ways. The five stories were chosen for their intensity and authenticity, and for the filmmakers' compelling passion to tell them. All the films are based on or inspired by the personal experience of the filmmakers.
