Commissions
Every year Exeter Phoenix commissions new work, primarily from artists, filmmakers and theatre makers based in the South West region.
Our aim is to identify, support and nurture fresh talent and many previous recipients have gone on to build careers, win awards and share their work on a national and international stage.
You can see this year’s current commissions in progress and live call-outs below, or follow the link to an archive of incredible past Exeter Phoenix commissions.
JUMP TO: VISUAL ART | FILM | PERFORMANCE | ARCHIVE
Visual Art
Artists Moving Image Commission – Sam Machell: Colosseum / Abyssal Zone
Sam Machell is an artist, writer and game developer based in Plymouth. His multi-disciplinary practice networks drawings, texts, performances and videos to conjure absurd fictions. He is interested in knotty, complex ecologies and systems of power; in the emotional and bodily experiences of the frail consciousnesses caught within them.
For the artist moving image commission Sam will utilise ultra high frame rate cameras to capture and slow down choreographed movements of bodies and light to create sublime images of clowns in dance-like combat.
Film
Each year, alongside bespoke project commissions, we commission a number of short films which premiere at our annual Two Short Nights film festival. The commissions are selected by open call and offer a cash fee alongside access to mentoring & advice, skills training and technical support.
Previous films have gone on to be screened nationally and internationally, winning awards including Best Short Film at BFI London Film Festival, Cannes Short Film Corner, Virgin Media Shorts, Media Innovation Awards and First Light Awards.
Exeter Phoenix Short Film Commissions 2026
Micro Short Film Commission - Sam McLoughlin: My Beloved
Sam graduated from a Film degree at Falmouth University in 2020, in which he specialised in location sound recording. More recently collaborating with filmmakers in the Southwest creating a plethora of short films, a feature film, and a TV pilot amongst many other projects.
He believes that the mix of my formal education and practical on set experience has given him the tools needed to bring to new projects.
Sam has expanded his film work into writing and directing, so far creating two short film projects ‘Forlorn Figure’ and ‘The Breakwater’ both of which allowed him to tackle vastly different aspects of the film making process and hone my craft to create engaging and visually interesting work.
‘My Beloved’ is a film that focuses on human emotion through the memories and connections we build through our lives with a key focus on the project's rich soundscape.
DOCLAB Micro Documentary Film Commission - Dom Deane: The Missing Manual: Duncan
The Missing Manual: Duncan is a short documentary portrait centred on one Devon participant reflecting on the experience of growing up without understanding why the world often felt confusing, overwhelming or slightly out of step with everyone else around him.
Dr Dom Deane (He/Him) is a filmmaker, sound practitioner, music sociologist, and educator with over 20 years of hands-on experience across music, film, and multimedia.
He is currently a Senior Research Development Specialist – Inclusive Media & Practice for Pathways for Progress, a UK-wide initiative supporting neurodiverse individuals across the UK and beyond. He has also taught as a film and media lecturer at universities and colleges across the UK and Europe, developing accessible, collaborative resources for neurodiverse participants. He has recorded, performed, and toured internationally as a musician, released records in the US, Japan, and Australia, promoted live events, and run a DIY record label. His film and sound work has screened at Leeds International Film Festival, London Fringe, and The Exeter Phoenix, with features across BBC, Channel 4, The Guardian, and Electronic Sounds. His research into DIY and indie music scenes has been published internationally and presented at conferences across Europe and Australia.
Devon Short Film Commission - Vivek Bhadra: Sick of it
Vivek Bhadra has a passion for all things creative, however film is where he is most himself. His focus is on moments that pass us by, bits of every day, everything in front of us that is fleeting. Warm toasted sourdough, fresh butter, some flaky sea salt and a generous drizzle of Dartmoor honey. This is the feeling he intends to invoke in his films, and he is beginning with Sick of it, his debut short film set in the beautiful coastline of Devon. Sick of it follows a South-Asian family who are on a holiday with their kid Sukhi. An open hearted, curious, and free-spirited kid whose parents refuse to acknowledge that he is different. On this holiday, Sukhi’s parents lock him in their RV until he finishes his summer homework. Sick of it follows Sukhi’s his path to freedom and attempts to see the world with his childlike wonder.
South West Short Film Commission - Daniel Granville: The Earthstoppers
Daniel Granville is a British director and screenwriter.
In 2025, he was a member of the Reykjavík International Film Festival Talent Lab. In 2024 he wrote and directed the horror short “Ghost Story” (2024), after winning the inaugural David Yates Fund, through Create Studios.
“Ghost Story” has screened at numerous horror and drama festivals across the UK and internationally, including the Unrestricted View Horror Film Festival, where it secured a Best Actor nomination, and the Stamford International Film Festival, where it received five nominations including Best Director. Previous films have screened at the IndieView Festival and Kino Im Sprengel in Germany.
He has been a member of the Channel 4 & Sony Pictures Television "Momentum" mentorship scheme in 2023, and the BFI "New Voices: Step Up" Southwest programme in 2024.
His new film, “The Earthstoppers”, inspired by the paintings of Joseph Wright of Derby, is a period horror set in 1773.
D&C Film: Emerging Filmmaker Fund - Lily Bennett: Crooked
Lily Bennett (she/her) is a South West originating filmmaker and producer, passionate about championing new ideas and stories. Recently graduating from the National Film and Television School, she is keen to use her training to continue her filmmaking journey. Collaborating with a variety of creatives, Lily hopes to produce films that encourage inclusivity.
"Crooked" is a comedy-drama that explores self-acceptance and queer expression, whilst maintaining a strong persona. After discovering the obscenity of dental costs, the story follows 'tough-guy' Tommy as he hatches a plan to rob his dentists and fix his 'crooked' teeth.
Artists Moving Image Commission – Sam Machell: Colosseum / Abyssal Zone
Sam Machell is an artist, writer and game developer based in Plymouth. His multi-disciplinary practice networks drawings, texts, performances and videos to conjure absurd fictions. He is interested in knotty, complex ecologies and systems of power; in the emotional and bodily experiences of the frail consciousnesses caught within them.
For the artist moving image commission Sam will utilise ultra high frame rate cameras to capture and slow down choreographed movements of bodies and light to create sublime images of clowns in dance-like combat.
Performance
Scratch Night Commissions
We are offering micro-commissions to support the development and presentation of new performance work for our regular Scratch Night performances throughout the year.
Commissioned artists receive a £150 fee, free rehearsal space, mentoring & advice, and the opportunity to perform their work in front of an audience.
Commissions Archive
