Ffilm Cymru Wales ignites new short films and opens latest round of funding
The development agency for Welsh film has selected six new shorts to progress into production through their Beacons scheme, supported by BFI NETWORK with funding from the National Lottery.
Beacons shines a light on Welsh talent, supporting emerging filmmakers from Wales to make a cinematic calling card with funding, training, mentoring and guidance.
In October 2024, nine projects were selected to embark on a period of development, with Ffilm Cymru Wales providing funding, guidance and mentoring from experienced filmmakers including Janis Pugh, Marilyn Milgrom, Jack Tarling, Philip John and Jay Bedwani. Following the development process, six scripts spanning manifold genres and languages have now been commissioned into production this year.
Jessica Cobham-Dineen, Ffilm Cymru Wales’ Manager of Development & Production, says: ‘For ten years, Beacons has produced a portfolio of distinctive, individual, authored work from Welsh filmmakers, and this year’s group of films heading into production continues that. We are excited to work with all six teams on bringing their stories into fruition.’
Chan’s
In a bustling Chinese takeaway in South Wales, on the night of the 1998 World Cup Final, a 10-year-old Ronaldo-obsessed boy must juggle family duty and his dream of witnessing football greatness. Chan’s is a semi-autobiographical story written and directed by Jun Chan, a Creative Director and guest UAL lecturer, and Fanny Hötzeneder, a TV Commercial Director. Together, they seek to highlight often-overlooked stories from East and Southeast Asian diaspora in British culture. Produced by Josh Gan, with Executive Producers Eleri Evans and Darren Tsang.
Extinction
In this animated comedy horror, all animals are extinct, and the people of a rural Welsh village begin to mourn their absence by filling in the roles they once played. Extinction is written and directed by Sara Schiavone, who’s previous short Slowly Waking was selected for Cardiff Animation Festival and FOCUS Wales Film Festival in 2024.
Juan
As a veteran Welsh Elvis impersonator prepares for his final bow, coming to terms with the sacrifices made and surgeries endured to embody the King, he is ready to step out of the legend’s shadow and rediscover his true self. Director Callum O’Keefe has extensive experience in documenting people through the medium of photography, taking a new lens to this heartfelt story. Nan Davies has joined the project as producer, having previously worked on last year’s Rick On The Roof.
Marriage Test
In 1984 Cardiff, Welsh Susie and Iranian Raz’s engagement hangs in the balance in a mosque’s waiting room. Are their differences insurmountable, or will their love triumph? Written and directed by Welsh-Iranian filmmaker Sara Nourizadeh, Marriage Test is a warm, funny, and tender comedy-drama that draws from personal history to explore love, identity, and what it means to bridge two worlds. Produced by Roxy Amini, with Executive Producers Matthew Barry, Alice Lusher and Ali Mashayekhi.
Scab
During a bitter miners’ strike, a scab struggles to hide his betrayal from his union boss brother as he transforms into a reflection of his ugly secret. This period body horror film is written and directed by Oliver Gabe and produced by Lee Haven Jones and Adam Knopf for Riot Time Pictures.
To Be Here
When the much-loved colleague of an isolated young woman dies, she starts to see him in her lonely world and is spurred on to finally start living. Written by BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing winner Carys Thomas, directed by Eleri B. Jones (recently Director & CEO of Theatre Brycheiniog), and produced by Chloe Huybens, To Be Here is a comedy-drama about loneliness, grief, and the ripples that small acts of kindness leave in our lives.
Ffilm Cymru Wales has also opened their latest round of Beacons short film funding. Writers and directors from Wales can apply for up to £25,000 to develop and produce their live-action, animated or documentary short film ideas. Applications are open until midday 27th June.
Three Beacons shorts premiered on BBC Cymru Wales in March and are now available to watch on BBC iPlayer: Llŷr Titus’ Welsh-language folk horror Dim Ond Ti a Mi, Nia Alavezos’ animated supernatural drama Passenger, and Alaw Llewelyn Roberts’ horror comedy Organic.
