The straight 8 challenge is as analogue as it gets: one roll of Super 8, no editing or post, and your first time seeing the finished film is with a packed audience at BFI Imax or Cannes. It’s raw, rough around the edges, and ridiculously fun. A perfect playground for filmmakers who like to jump in headfirst. With regular filmy social events in London, it’s a community as much as a competition.

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TAPE Collective have been creating space for underrepresented films and filmmakers since 2015. From community screenings to panel events, distribution and their own streaming platform, they work across the film ecosystem to amplify stories that don’t often get heard - especially those by women of colour.

The British Blacklist is a long-standing platform championing Black creatives in the UK and the wider diaspora. Alongside sharp editorial coverage, it hosts the black | listed database - a growing hub of Black talent working across the creative industries.

TNBFC is a hub for Black-led filmmaking in the UK - supporting creatives through events, screenings, skills development, PR, and more. They’re behind everything from distributing films like Dear White People to helping early-career programmers get their start. Their annual TNB XPO brings hundreds of Black creatives together under one roof - and they offer free membership for individuals in the industry.

Become a member for free

The South Yorkshire Filmmakers Network is a home, hub and resource for Northern filmmakers in the UK. Established in 2004, they're a massive filmmakers' network in the North and have 2-3 events every month: screenings, networking events, competitions and workshops. They hire equipment, provide one-to-one advice and guidance, and have a strong membership base and social media presence. A fantastic resource, based in Sheffield/Yorkshire.

Trans+ On Screen is a directory platform supporting trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming professionals across film and TV. Set up to challenge traditional hiring models, they focus on care over clout, offering an empowering alternative to agency fees and tokenism. The platform connects industry opportunities with talent across all areas of the production pipeline.

Friendly, free and focused on building real connections, Tweetups offers monthly networking events for actors and filmmakers, plus regular Q&As with casting directors and industry guests. Each year they also run TweetFest, a BIFA-qualifying short film festival packed with exciting new work.

Set up to make the arts more accessible, Underscore Studios runs low-cost, skills-based film workshops aimed at helping working-class creatives build careers. From script feedback to practical sessions on directing and producing, everything they do is designed to be useful, flexible and rooted in real-world experience.