iShorts+ fund launched for female comedy directors

Female filmmakers with a funny bone can now apply for iShorts+: Funny Girls, a new programme launched today by Creative England in partnership with the comedy production companies Big Talk and Baby Cow.

iShorts+ will make a £10,000 production award to up to 5 comedy narrative shorts, provide intensive development support through a two-day comedy residential workshop in Brighton and offer access to mentors from the UK's leading film and TV comedy production companies.

Aimed at female directors and writer/directors working in film comedy across England, this round of iShorts+ is the first in an annual series that will focus on a different brief each time.

Celine Haddad, Senior Film Executive for Talent Development at Creative England, explains: "We know that there is a wealth of female filmmaking talent out there but we also know that we need to see more of this diverse talent and their projects making it onto our screens. We want to help nurture aspiring female filmmakers, help them hone their craft in the short film medium and use that as a springboard to sustain a lifelong career in a feature film genre that is proven to entertain cinema audiences worldwide, time and time again.

"We don't believe the difficulties achieving this in the wider UK film landscape speaks to an inherent lack of comedic talent, so much as a lack of opportunity. This progressive approach to talent, from the moment of their discovery to the making of their first feature, forms an essential part of Creative England's longer term philosophy as part of the BFI.NETWORK - and nobody told us you couldn't have a little fun along the way."

The programme hopes to reach aspiring female filmmakers from 'all cultural comedic corners': narrative short film; TV sketch and sitcom; comedic theatre productions and radio plays; web series and viral promos; commercials and music videos.

On board as official partners for the programme are Big Talk Pictures (Rev, Friday Night Dinner, Him & Her) and Baby Cow Productions (Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, Moone Boy, Gavin & Stacey), who will 'provide expertise at key stages of the initiative as mentors and key note speakers, granting awardees privileged access to their own produced talent'.

Rachael Prior from Big Talk Pictures says: "We're thrilled to be part of this scheme. It could not have come soon enough. Unearthing exciting new comedy voices for British film is in our DNA but can also represent the most challenging part of our work. The lack of visibility of women in this genre is particularly alarming and as female producers, we've had enough of the status quo.

"We believe the talent is out there and it needs nurturing and encouraging to embrace this most diverse of genres. Comedy has the capacity to uplift, transport and carry social message more directly than any other genre. We can't wait to see who we discover."

Henry Normal, the co-founder of Baby Cow, adds: "At Baby Cow we believe everyone has a story to tell. The more we hear stories from new perspectives the more our enjoyment and understanding of the world is enhanced."

Potential applicants can download the full set of Guidelines and FAQ's on the Creative England website: www.creativeengland.co.uk

The deadline is Friday 29th August at 5pm.