Short Film & Artist Moving Image Commissions Announced

‘The training and professional support throughout the filmmaking process has been invaluable.’
Carrie Hill, director of Old, Grey & Fast

Exeter Phoenix has announced that it will commission 5 new short films in 2014 as well as a new £1000 Artists’ Moving Image project. The application process is now open and the deadline for submissions is Monday 17th February 2014. All of the commissions are only available to people who live in the South West and in particular four of the commissions are exclusive to Devon based filmmakers.

This year’s commissions are split into the Devon Short Film, Crowdfunder Short Film and Artists’ Moving Image categories. The Devon Short Film commission offers the chance to four Devon based filmmakers or aspiring filmmakers to develop an original idea. The Crowdfunder Short Film commission requires the selected filmmaker to raise matched funding for their film through the online funding platform www.crowdfunder.co.uk.

Claire Horrocks the Exeter Phoenix Digital Coordinator & Film Programmer said, ‘We are looking for original, inspiring and brave ideas. The commissions offer training and support from experts in the industry, including Colourburn, and bespoke script development opportunities. We are not expecting applicants to have expert filmmaking knowledge, but passion for short film is essential and some knowledge of the regional short film scene would benefit.’

A new Artists’ Moving Image commission this year provides a South West based artist a £1000 opportunity to create and show a moving image artwork for screen, installation or online. Exeter Phoenix is looking for an artist to present an original and engaging idea that could be narrative, abstract, experimental, or conceptual. Matt Burrows thePhoenix Gallery curator said, ‘It could be a development of an existing moving image practice or a new direction for an artist, stepping out of their usual discipline. Above all, we are looking for a sense of potential that can be realised with our support.’

As in other years the film commissions will premiere at the 2014 Two Short Nights Film Festival. The winner of the Best Short Film Commission at the 2013 festival was Old, Grey and Fast directed by Carrie Hill. She described her experience of having a film commissioned by ExeterPhoenix Digital. ‘As a first time director, being selected for a short film commission gave me the opportunity to turn my idea into the best film I can. The training and professional support throughout the filmmaking process has been invaluable but it’s also the encouragement of Claire and Jonas at Exeter Phoenix Digital that makes the difference. Watching my film on the big screen at the Two Short Nights festival was fantastic and I know the exposure I’ve received, new skills I’ve learnt and contacts made will be vital to my filmmaking career in the future.’

Exeter Phoenix Digital has been commissioning short film projects for 12 years. Inthis time nearly 80 Short Films have been funded and/or supported and developed. Also a provider of training and support to the filmmaking community, Exeter Phoenix Digital aims to nurture local emerging film talent by providing opportunities to create and developideas and skills.

Anyone interested in submitting an application for the commissions can visit the Exeter Phoenix website to download an application form and guidance notes. For the Artists’ Moving Image opportunity visit www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/art/commissions or go to www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/film/commissons for the short film commissions.