Short Filmmaker Resources

Getting Started

Watching short films is an excellent way to get a feel for the creative potential of the format and learn how to tell compelling stories in a short timeframe. Below are some of our favourite places to find high quality short filmmaking.

There is loads of free guidance out there for new filmmakers. Here are just a few resources to get you started:

For an overview of the short filmmaking process, try BFI NETWORK’s Short Hand podcast. Each episode covers a key area, from writing through to the edit. 

For documentary, One Stop Doc Shop features interviews with an amazing array of filmmakers as well as Q&As with film funders and festival experts. 

If you want to make a scripted short but don’t have any experience of screenwriting, why not sign up to a free short course such as FutureLearn’s Screenwriting with the University of East Anglia. 

If you only have a couple of hours, check out the session run by Ffilm Cymru and BFI NETWORK Wales with script editor Jess Jones on Short Film Storytelling. 

If you need guidance on script formatting, BBC Writers Room offer a great set of resources. 

 

Environmental Sustainability

You should plan your project with the climate crisis in mind.

If you’re not sure where to start, BFI NETWORK published 10 tips on What to Think about When Making a Sustainable Short Film as well as a more detailed set of guidance on How To Make Your Film Shoot More Sustainable. 

Ffilm Cymru’s Green Cymru web page offers resources, reports, training and tools. 

Albert supports everyone working in film and TV to create positive environmental change. They run free online training.

As part of their project on Greening the Animation Industry, Cardiff Animation Festival published 11 lessons from lockdown. You can also watch a recording of their 2022 Climate Assembly.

Doc Society’s Green Documentary Protocol provides industry aligned best practice for sustainable documentary filmmaking.

Created by writers, for writers, Good Energy’s interactive resource helps creators explore the endless ways the climate emergency complicates characters and colours story worlds. 

 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

You should think about how you can support equality, diversity and inclusion on your film, considering representation as well as the way you could cast, hire, run production, as well as engaging with diverse audiences.

The following are recommended reading:
Ffilm Cymru’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 
The BFI’s Diversity Standards 

There are so many organisations doing great work and sharing resources related to equality, diversity and inclusion. Just a few are listed below.

Creative Majority published a report on ‘What Works’ to support, encourage and improve equity, diversity and inclusion in the creative sector. 

Raising Films’ Creating Inclusive Productions provides guidelines, suggestions and ideas on how to make the full life-span of a production fully inclusive for parents and/or carers.

Culture Connect Wales supports diverse talent in finding opportunities in the film and TV sector in Wales. It promotes jobs and opportunities, offers advice and support.

Press Reset is the BFI’s campaign to inspire authority figures in film and TV to reset practices involving Disabled people and establish a new, more inclusive normal.

Disability Arts Cymru is the lead organisation for disability arts in Wales. They support and promote disabled artists, work with arts companies and venues to make them more inclusive and accessible, and use the arts to challenge perceptions of disability.

FWD-Doc Engagement Pack - Changing the Narrative of Disability in Documentary Film contains resources and includes templates for use across the industry. 

TripleC’s talent finder helps creative sector employers find talent who are living with disabilities. 

Hijinx Actors is a unique casting platform for professionally trained actors with learning disabilities and/or autism.

Future Learn’s course on Creating Audio Description explores how to design & create audio descriptions that fully represent a film, play or TV programme. 

 

Wellbeing

You should think about how you can make sure you look after everyone who works with you so that they can flourish and deliver their best work on your film.

The following is recommended reading:
BFI - Bullying, harassment and racism prevention for the screen industries

CULT Cymru offers training on a range of topics, including bullying and harassment prevention, mental health and wellbeing. 

The Whole Picture Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to creating a mentally healthy production, to help you through each stage of production and everything else including finance, policies and HR. 

The Film & TV Charity ‘s Freelancer Wellbeing Hub offers support and resources for people freelancing in film and TV— including a 24/7 confidential helpline.