News
- Today is the registration deadline for Children’s Screening Days! The films line-up is now confirmed – our newest addition is Black Britain, an upcoming BFI National Archive programme studying the experiences of the black community in Britain from the early 20th century to the present day. Book here and read our recent blog on tips for programming for young audiences, which gives a flavour of the day, here.
- We’re also getting ready for April’s Screening Days this weekend. Check out our fantastic line-up and our trailer playlist. It’s our biggest ever event and we’re delighted so many of you will be joining us, but we had to disappoint more people than we’d have liked to, so do sign up to our mailing list to make sure you don’t miss out next time.
- The Cultural Cinema Exhibition course will be running partly alongside Screening Days at BFI Southbank – we’re thrilled to be running this flagship programming course again and excited to meet this year’s trainees.
- Our latest release The Invisible Life is out in cinemas today. The first film in 25 years from Portuguese director VtorGonalves – whose previous release, A Girl in Summer, is considered a landmark on Portuguese cinema – it’s been hailed a “rigorous, elegant study of emotional crisis” by the Guardian. Read more and see all play dates.
- Cannes announced its line-up this morning and it’s a veritable smorgasbord. I can’t wait for Todd Haynes’ Patricia Highsmith adaptation Carol, Hirokazu Koreeda’s Our Little Sister and Jia Zhangke’s Mountains May Depart – and am also intrigued (not least for Colin Farrell’s moustache) by Dogtooth director Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster. Read Little White Lies’ excellent round-up.
Opportunities & calls for submissions
- We’ll be running a Neighbourhood Cinema training event in Northumberland over 1-2 June. If you’re hoping to start screening films locally or know someone who is, read more about this free event.
- BFI Film Audience Network members – do you want to go to Sheffield Doc/Fest? If you’re a member of one of the Film Hubs, you’re eligible for a discounted pass (149 + VAT), in a move designed to encourage UK exhibitors from across the regions to come together and help develop the documentary exhibition landscape. Email your Film Hub for details.
- Doc/Fest is also offering documentary makers the chance to pitch a doc reframing the debate around climate change and win 4K funding towards developing the project.
- The BFI London Film Festival 2015 is now open for submissions.
- Fancy a 1K cash prize? Submit your short films (1 to 10 mins) to Bath Film Festival’s IMDB New Filmmaker Award.
- And win another 1K with Leamington Underground Cinema’s short film prize! Also open for entries.
- Underwire Festival is looking for female-directed short films – submit here.
- The Royal African Society’s annual festival, Film Africa is seeking short films made by African filmmakers, or on a topic relating to the continent.
- The early bird deadline for submissions to London Short Film Festival is coming up (10 May).
Read more
- Who’s distributing the best films in the UK? Erm – we are (almost).
- “We were making films because they were an expression of ourselves: what we were challenged by, what we wanted to change or redefine, or just dive into and explore.” – Read about Tate Film’s excellent LA Rebellion: Creating a New Black Cinema retrospective, currently screening to great acclaim.
- “The films we digest when young play out years later in different guises.” I loved this affecting, resonant piece by Joanna Hogg on her cinematic influences.
- “In a dream world, I’d want people to leave with the feeling they could do anything” – equally inspiring is Verena von Stackelberg on Berlin’s film exhibition scene and opening her new cinema, Wolf, in the city.
- Fancy taking a course in icy blondes (or icy blondes)? Take Saffron Screen’s one-day Hitchcock film course.
- Have $40,000 to spare, love seeing films as they come out but loathe human interaction? This is for you.
- Cumberbatch cares.
- And finally: show your support for East London arts venue Rich Mix, under threat of closure.