In January we’re celebrating Shooting People’s 20th anniversary by launching SHORT CUTS, our new career development focused film competition.

We’ll also be in conversation with writer/director Hope Dickson Leach (The Levelling) and producer Manon Ardisson (God’s Own Country). We’ll be discussing their breakout feature projects this year and all the work that led into them, and hearing their insights on navigating the industry as an independent filmmaker. After the talk there’ll be time to meet other filmmakers over some complimentary drinks.

The launch party will be from 7pm on the 11th January at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. The event is FREE and open to all, but please RSVP to let us know you’re coming.

Hope Dickson Leach is a British filmmaker whose films have played at festivals worldwide. Amongst them, Sundance selected thesis film The Dawn Chorus, Silly Girl, produced for NOWNESS’ ‘Define Gender’ series, and Morning Echo, made through Film London’s Pulse Plus scheme. Subsequently, Filmmaker Magazine named Leach as one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Film,” and her debut feature The Levelling premiered at Toronto International Film Festival to great acclaim, before being one of the most celebrated British debuts of the year after its UK release. Currently, Leach is a co-founder of parent filmmaker advocacy group Raising Films and continues to develop films.

Manon Ardisson is a talented new producer responsible for two features to date (God’s Own Country and La Soledad), and a host of shorts. God’s Own Country, from first time director Francis Lee, won the Jury Award for Directing upon its Sundance premiere, before becoming one of the most successful independent films of the year on its UK release. Jorge Thielen Armand’s La Soledad premiered at the Venice Film Festival, before playing many festivals including the UK’s Frames of Representation festival at the ICA, who distributed it for a UK release. She is now financing her third feature as producer, Treading Water, written by Lee Mattinson and directed by her long-time collaborator Samuel de Ceccatty.

We look forward to speaking with them and hearing all about their work, telling you all about SHORT CUTS, meeting more of you, and bringing filmmakers together. See you there.

In the meantime, you can still learn what SHORT CUTS has to offer, view the trailer, and sign up to Shooting People. (Members submit for free.)

Submissions will open on January 1st, to enter all you need to submit is a short film.

Shortlisted filmmakers will win mentorship from BFI NETWORK, Creative England, Channel 4 Random Acts, The Agency and Lightbox Entertainment and Wildgaze Films, prizes from RØDE, Blackmagic Design, Final Draft, Little White Lies, Close-Up Cinema, Picturehouses, MUBI, and their shortlisted film will be screened at a London venue. The BAFTA winning and Oscar nominated producer Stephen Woolley (Carol, The Crying Game) will select the winning filmmaker, who will receive the above prizes plus mentorship from producer/director Ian Bonhôte (Co-Founder of Misfits Entertainment & previously Pulse Films), mentorship from BAFTA winning and Oscar nominated producer Paul Webster (Founder of Shoebox Films, Atonement, Eastern Promises, The Motorcycle Diaries), production support from SP on future projects and £1000 film funding.