Animate Projects have been championing experimental animation for years, producing bold and innovative work that sits at the intersection of art, film and animation. They’ve collaborated with an impressive range of artists and institutions and have supported New Shoots: Filmmakers through mentorship. Led by Abigail Addison and Gary Thomas, they continue to support inventive voices and push the form in exciting directions.

Set up under a railway arch in Loughborough Junction, Atlas Cinema is an experimental, volunteer-run cinema space and sister project to Brixton Community Cinema. It offers affordable screenings (max £5), built from the ground up—literally—with salvaged materials and community graft. It’s a space for emerging curators to programme boldly and collectively, far from the gatekeeping of traditional venues.

Bertha DocHouse is the UK’s only cinema screen dedicated entirely to documentaries, and it’s been championing the form for over 20 years. Tucked inside the Curzon Bloomsbury, it’s where you’ll find bold, international docs every day of the week—plus Q&As, retrospectives and proper deep dives into the craft.

BFI NETWORK offer one of the broadest ranges of support for emerging filmmakers in the UK. They fund shorts and early development for features, with specific regional teams who also run events, workshops and mentoring schemes. They’ve also contributed to New Shoots: Filmmakers, and continue to be a crucial launchpad for new talent.

Bolton International Film Festival is a respected shorts-focused festival with serious reach—BAFTA, BIFA and Grierson qualifying, FilmFreeway top-rated, and a champion of diverse storytelling. Founded as a local arts project, it’s grown into a major platform for new talent while staying true to its roots—supporting filmmakers in and beyond the North West with workshops, mentoring and year-round guidance.

From surprise preview screenings of upcoming blockbusters to curated short film screenings, Bounce Cinema is a platform for filmmakers often left out of the conversation. Founded by artist and filmmaker Mathieu Ajan, they’ve built a space where film feels exciting, inclusive, and rooted in real community.

The UK’s only film club dedicated to 16mm projection, Ciné-Real has been quietly selling out screenings for over a decade. What started with a broken Super 8 projector pulled from a Hackney bin is now a much-loved fixture at The Castle Cinema. Co-run by filmmaker Liam Saint-Pierre and projectionist Ümit Mesut, it’s a proper analogue affair: visible projectors, occasional on-the-spot repairs, and a loyal crowd that comes for the atmosphere as much as the film.

Cinesisters is a UK-based collective for female-identifying directors across film, TV and commercials. It’s a peer-led network that creates real-world support: masterclasses, writing groups, screenings and strategy. Membership is open to directors with a proven track record, and the group’s focus is on connection, craft and shaking up the industry — together.

Curated by filmmaker Tomisin Adepeju, DAILIES creates space for connection, conversation and discovery through bold, theme-driven film screenings and development programmes. Starting out on warehouse sofas in 2018, they now run sold-out events at venues like Rio Cinema, Rich Mix and BFI, always spotlighting work you won’t find at your local multiplex.

Directors Notes is one of the best places online for thoughtful, in-depth coverage of independent film. They champion shorts, features and everything in between, with filmmaker interviews, reviews and behind-the-scenes insights that feel genuinely useful. Their taste is eclectic, their tone is honest, and their support can really help a short get seen.

Founded by Shooting People's late co-founder Jess Search, Doc Society is a major force behind independent documentary. They offer a whole suite of funds (including the BFI Doc Society Fund and the Climate Story Fund), and back work that’s artist-led, bold, and refuses to pander to market logic or algorithms. If your project’s all about impact and truth-telling - and you’ve got something urgent to say - this is one of the most important places to go.

Encounters has been flying the flag for short film since 1995, hosting boundary-pushing work and helping new filmmakers get seen. Based in Bristol, it’s refreshingly informal but well respected across the industry. They also run Depict!, a fun and free challenge to make a 90-second film, with cash prizes and exposure on offer.

Basingstoke’s Exit 6 Film Festival has been spotlighting standout short films since 2016. They combine a love of craft with a proper festival atmosphere—complete with Q&As, masterclasses and awards. Friendly, accessible and filmmaker-run, it’s become a solid platform for new and established voices.

Helping the behind-the-scenes folks stay afloat, sane, and seen. They offer everything from mental health support to grants for when times are rough, plus a rolling list of industry funding, gigs, and events worth keeping an eye on.

Industry Opportunities and Events Listings

Film East blends slow criticism, bespoke screenings and smart conversation to help audiences see film - and the world - a little differently. Founded in Norwich and now operating on both sides of the Atlantic, they champion thoughtful cinema and the people who write, talk and care about it.