NINE SHORT FILMS IN PRODUCTION YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
In the coming year, nine short films funded through an innovative new fund called Future Takes are set to begin filming. This pilot fund, a partnership between the British Film Institute (BFI) and Film4, aims to support ambitious talent from across the UK and to create a more diverse range of stories. The projects will focus on important topics such as parental love, sexual addiction and disability rights, with a focus on ensuring each team has access to support during the filming process, as well as creative and production executives from both organisations to help them bring their visions to life.
Testing the impact of having an access coordinator is also an important aspect of these projects, designed to understand the impact of having someone dedicated to capturing and addressing access needs of the entire cast and crew, to encourage greater recognition of access barriers and wider adoption of similar roles. Each project will have access to wellbeing support and the opportunity to screen the films at film festivals around the world, as well as being made available to the wider UK public through streaming on the BFI Player.
Overall, these greenlit projects aim to highlight the amazing diversity and talent in the world of filmmaking, while also encouraging new and upcoming filmmakers to bring their stories to the screen. Keep your eyes open for the following:
Deliverance: A mother's love for her newly deaf child leads her to seek out a pastor and his ritual, but she faces conflict from an unexpected source.
Flock: When sheep mysteriously vanish, an elderly Shepherd becomes a suspect and faces suspicion and anger.
Homework: An 11-year-old schoolgirl is determined to hide her secret and faces temptation before making a dangerous decision.
In Heat: A recovering sex addict must decide between his addiction and his family.
The Insatiable Appetite of Lady Jane Grey: The relationship between a mother and daughter changes when they must protect their family of rabbits from outsiders.
Leaving Ikorodu in 1999: A 10-year-old girl embarks on a journey to London to join her mother, questioning whether the decision is the best for her.
Magid-Zafar: Two childhood friends deal with their diverging futures amidst the heat of a busy Pakistani takeaway.
Meatmylk: An insecure personal trainer decides to use a new protein shake to increase his gains, only to experience unpleasant consequences.
Under the Wave off Little Dragon: A Chinese girl in Wales sets out to find a fish that brings good fortune to her family's restaurant, facing danger and adventure along the way.
This diverse and exciting group of short films showcases the talent and potential of emerging filmmakers in the UK, and provides opportunities for them to develop their skills and connections to progress to bigger and bolder long form projects.