The BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund 2025 has launched, and we supported those looking to submit for funding by running an information session about the do’s and don’t’s of preparing your application. Watch for insights on essential information, budgeting, story development, and practical logistics.
We also have resources and advice for how to identify, approach and work harmoniously with a producer, as well as a case study in how to put together a budget.
Further resources on finding producers
- Revisit our Short Hand podcast episode on the art and graft of producing, where short film producers Mia Xerri (X to X), Sophie Reynolds (Vert, Enjoy), Helen Simmons (F*ck, Swan) and Loran Dunn (Lambing Season, Doggerland, Shagbands) talk about finding collaborators at your level.
- Our friends at Film Hub Midlands have already shared their tips on finding collaborators and like-minded people. Read it here.
- LUX Scotland’s advice on working with a producer is also invaluable, particularly about creatively meshing with your chosen producer and finding someone who has time, energy and perseverance to bring to the project.
- This conversation on the director-producer partnership, published by Dear Producer, although geared towards features, still contains some salient advice about the importance of communication, patience and kindness.
Do's & Don'ts of approaching producers
- DO your research! The British Council publishes a UK Shorts Catalogue every year that provides a good overview of who is currently producing shorts. Try and watch as many short films as possible and see which ones chime with you, reach out to those producers and even if they don’t have capacity at the moment, ask them if they have any recommendations for emerging producers or production managers who are ready to step up.
- DO think outside the box. Your ideal producer might have been producing theatre, or music videos, or short documentaries, or commercials, or festivals and events – the skills are transferable and as long as they have the appetite and the dedication to learn the ropes, they don’t have to have produced narrative shorts before.
- Before agreeing to work together, DO have an honest conversation about your expectations and your capacity to actually produce a short film together. Do you have enough time over the next year to devote to the project if it’s selected for funding? Do you have a similar work ethic? Do you have similar tastes and values? Do you like each other?
- DON’T leave it to the last minute! If you’re emailing a producer whilst the Short Film Fund is open, then be transparent about that fact and make the effort to explain why you’re coming specifically to them. DON’T send a blanket email that reads like it’s been copy and pasted to fifteen other producers.
- DON’T be limited by the region. To be eligible for BFI NETWORK South East funding it’s just the director that has to reside in one of these counties, so consider reaching out to producers based elsewhere. The other hubs run lots of producers programmes designed to upskill and elevate emerging producers, e.g. Film Hub North Creative Producer School and Film Hub South West Producer Lab.
- DON’T give up. You might have to watch a lot of short films and send a lot of cold emails, but this might be a one-time thing if you find someone you want to keep working with… And ultimately that should be the goal: a producer isn’t just someone to approach to help you fill out an application, they should be someone you’re genuinely excited to work with, on this project and maybe even beyond.