In memory of our friend, collaborator and board member
Miles Ketley was a producer with a passion for helping make a difference to emerging filmmakers, especially those whose voices were otherwise often overlooked in the industry. To honour his memory and continue his contribution, we launched a bursary fund in his name in 2022.
There is often a gap between who is able to make a first short or feature and who goes on to have a long-standing career and come to fruition as a filmmaker. This area is where Miles was most keen to intervene, and what this fund looks to support.
There were three years of support in the fund at its inception in 2022. The final year of the fund is 2024-25.
Who it's for
This bursary is available to any debut British feature filmmaker who features in our Screening Days programmes or any British filmmaker featured in our ‘Introducing’ shorts programmes (shown at our Spring and Autumn Screening Days each year) from December 2020 on (the first event at which we screened an ‘Introducing’ shorts programme).
We want to support filmmakers who are connecting with their communities and bringing audiences together with their filmmaking. Subsequently, this fund is intended for the types of filmmakers we know are marginalised in the film industry: Black, Asian and ethnically diverse filmmakers and disabled filmmakers (or anyone at their intersections), and is designed to support their professional development.
Filmmakers can be directors or producers and their debut films shorts or features. They must be British.
More than one filmmaker of the same title can apply to the fund (e.g. the director and producer of an individual film can both apply separately). Filmmakers can only be awarded once (though both director and producer are eligible to receive the award).
What it supports
From its own finances, the ICO is offering a total budget of £5,000 per year across 2022–2025 to filmmakers to support:
- Travel bursaries (e.g. for festival travel to grow a professional network and visibility; for research trips in support of developing work)
- Payment of partners to help produce work (e.g. a script editor to aid development)
- Training and development (e.g. costs towards participation in training courses and other professional development opportunities)
- Filmmaking tools (e.g. software, hardware, film stock)
You can apply for costs up to £5,000. However, we usually fund several filmmakers’ costs out of the total £5,000 each year.
Applications & awards
The ICO will contact Screening Days filmmakers who qualify to let them know about the fund and to advise them on how to apply. Eligible filmmakers will be contacted when applications are open for the final 2024-25 funding round in late 2024.
Filmmakers should expect to submit:
- A 500 word (approx.) statement on the activity or cost(s) your bursary will cover, delineating how it/they will enhance your filmmaking practice in a tangible way (i.e. how it will help you extend your practice and lead to more of your filmmaking meeting with audiences)
- A rough budget listing key costs.
Awards
2022-23
Awards for the 2022-23 fund were made in March 2023. See the awardees.
2023-24
Awards for the 2023-24 fund were made in March 2024. See the awardees.
More information
If you have any queries about the fund, email: info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk