Ffilm Cymru Wales presents: A Filmmakers Guide 

Learn the craft of directing and the art of short films. Discover how to capture compelling documentaries, bring imagination to life through animation or fiction storytelling or unlock cinematic potential of mobile filmmaking.

Each part is led by an industry professional who will share technique, insights and practical approaches to help you develop your vision. 

Location: The Place, 9-10 Bridge St, Newport NP20 4AL

From Script to Screen - Planning your Shot

Friday 21st November 2025
The Venue, 6pm – 7pm
Hear from Jack Bird, a photographer and videographer from South Wales with a background in Media Production from the University of South Wales. With over a decade of freelance experience, he has worked across commercial projects, television, and modelling agencies—bringing creative visions to life through both stills and motion. Jack’s work combines technical precision with storytelling, whether he’s capturing a brand’s identity, producing broadcast content, or building portfolios for talent.

Develop a complete visual blueprint, turning words on a page into a practical production plan. Perfect for anyone interested in directing, cinematography, or understanding how scripts become films.

Hidden Heroes: Shoot it on your Phone 

Monday 24th November 2025
The Venue, 6pm –8pm
Mohamad Fez Miah is a filmmaker, educator, and data-led storyteller with nearly two decades of experience in creative media. With a background in documentary film and media training at the University of South Wales, he has led award-winning community arts projects, produced content with over 50 million views, and trained hundreds of young people in digital storytelling across South Wales. Passionate about accessible filmmaking, Mohamad specialises in helping communities use simple tools like the phone in their pocket to tell powerful, human stories.

Empower young filmmakers to discover film, and edit short, authentic films about “hidden heroes” using their phones. The democratisation of equipment is here. Anyone can make a film. This masterclass will show you what you need and how to do it. 

Archives & Activism

Friday 28th November 2025
The Green Room, 6pm – 7:30pm
Yvonne Connikie is a filmmaker, programmer, and curator specialising in Black independent film, with an extensive career promoting and archiving Black British cinema. As a filmmaker and curator for the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival, she founded the Black Film Festival Wales (2000-2008) and co-founded The New Black Film Collective, where she served as Chair. She has worked as Assistant Curator and Education Coordinator for the Black London Film Heritage Archive Project’s ‘Big City Stories’ initiative, and authored books including “Fashions of a Decade: The 1960s.” Her short film work includes ‘A Time for New Dreams’ with Artes Mundi. 

Currently, Yvonne programmes for the Windrush Film Festival, curates and manages the archive of photographer Charlie Phillips OBE, and serves as a board member of TEAM Collective Cymru. She is also an MPhil candidate at the University of South Wales.

Explore art and disability in documentary filmmaking, taking a deep dive into the experimental film by John Akomfrah on Artist Donald Rodney.

Balancing Film Directing Around the Day Job 

Friday 5th December 
The Venue, 6pm – 7:30pm
Luke Andrews is a Newport-based short film director, writer, and editor. His short film EDNA’S BENCH, produced through the It’s My Shout Scheme and BBC Wales, earned a BAFTA Cymru nomination for Best Short Form in 2011.

As a writer, his historical drama screenplay DEAREST OTTO won Best Screenplay at the UK Parliament’s Film the House competition in 2019. Across his work, Andrews creates films larger in scope that tell intimate stories.

He currently co-runs Red Mountain Films out of Cardiff Bay. This year the company completed its first feature-length documentary, OLYMPIACOS: THE LEGEND, which secured a release on Amazon Prime Video, telling the story of Greece’s most successful football team and its 2024 European Cup success.

For anyone trying to keep their creative drive alive, whilst earning a living. Drawing from personal experience directing six short films alongside full-time work in supermarkets, factories, and other non-arts jobs, this talk explores how to sustain filmmaking ambitions without formal industry backing or endless free time. 

Through behind-the-scenes stories, film clips, and hard-earned lessons, it’s an honest look at the realities of being a working filmmaker in the ‘real world’.

Stories that Transform: Crafting Fiction with Purpose

Friday 9th January 2025
The Venue, 6pm – 7pm 
Nyla is a Welsh writer and director with a background in theatre and a passion for storytelling. She specialises in using drama, music, and interactive performance as powerful tools for self-expression, emotional regulation, and empowerment. From directing short-films and music videos to live- on stage performances, Nyla is deeply committed to creating inclusive, thought-provoking work that fosters dialogue, creativity, and personal growth. Now, as a director of TrueLume Films, her focus is to bring spiritually resonant visuals with rich narrative to the screen, using a clear, creative vision rooted in truth and purpose.

Learn to craft purposeful fictional by understanding the tree core pillars of storytelling: desire, conflict and transformation. Through interactive exercises and cross-medium examples from theatre, books and TV, you will learn to create characters and stories that emotionally resonate and leave a lasting impact on audiences. 

Producing for Film and Animation

Friday 16th January 2026
The Venue, 6pm – 7:30pm
Based in Wales, Amy Morris is an independent animation and film producer with over 16 years of experience. Her practice is rooted in storytelling and people-focused creativity, driven by a passion for authentic voices and powerful visual narratives. She collaborates with a wide range of international partners from India, Canada, Belgium, and beyond, developing projects that cross cultures and connect audiences worldwide.

She also runs the boutique studio AMMÔ Animation, the sister company to the long-standing not-for-profit Winding Snake Productions, which she co-founded and manages with her partner, Glen Biseker. Many of her projects have been selected to screen at Oscar-qualifying festivals, including Tribeca, Berlin, and Frameline. With a collaborative spirit and love for bold, character-driven stories, she continues to champion creative work that celebrates humanity in all its forms.

Learn the key differences between producing live-action and animation, and gain hands-on guidance for creating and managing budgets for short film projects. From building teams to balancing creativity and finance, this masterclass will give you the tools to plan smart, produce confidently, and make the most of every penny on screen.