Industry insight
From Kenyan drama to Thai horror - how far has smartphone filmmaking come in amplifying marginalised voices?
Smartphones have changed how we make and consume media in our daily lives. But how have they impacted areas of the film industry?
smartphones in documentary filmmaking: An interview with elke sasse
Elke Sasse is a filmmaker whose titles include THE CORONA DIARIES, THE WAR ON MY PHONE, and #MYESCAPE - all three documentaries focus on footage shot by real people, taken on their mobile phones.
Ok, Smartypants, Let's Make a Movie!
If you’re as old as I am, you’ll remember the advent of the digital democratisation of filmmaking. That was when, up to that point, only the Gods on Mount Olympus could possibly make films as they were the only ones with access to the filmmaking equipment required to do so. Now, we have all been bestowed the power of the Gods.
The Outer Limits of Sci-fi Festivals & Online Distribution
With a good story, science fiction, much like horror and fantasy, is a genre that has the capacity to transcend film festival programmes and find multiple homes online when the festival run is over.
You don’t need a budget when you’ve got a beach ball with legs - and other lessons from bargain science fiction films
You don’t need a budget when you’ve got a beach ball with legs - and other lessons from bargain science fiction films from history.
Futurism - writing beyond worlds
Speaking to some of our clients (Mike Keaby // The Problem With Time Travel, Heather McQ // A Positive Contribution, Francis Tamburin // IRIS, and Ian Sweeney // Time Tourists) sci-fi scriptwriters are societies modern revolutionaries preparing their audiences with what the future entails. But how do we make it entertaining?
Reflecting on the principles of perspective with Nani Sahra Walker
Nurturing the documentarians of tomorrow, filmmaker and LA Times Short Docs curator Nani Sahra Walker shares her wisdom and experiences.
Exploring the boundaries of documentary filmmaking with Riccardo Servini & Ben Proudfoot
How does the filmmaker and audience interpret documentaries? We ask feature doc filmmaker Riccardo Servini and Oscar-winner Ben Proudfoot.
The conscientious filmmakers’ guidebook with Sharon Ryba-Kahn
Academic and short filmmaker Sharon Ryba-Khan shares the importance of audience education in a consumerist world.
Online opportunities
Networking these days isn’t just about working a room, it’s also getting the most out of online opportunities too.
Connected, Naturally
You’ve got fresh business cards and you’re ready to mix it up with some filmmakers - where do you go?
Talk is cheap but talking is priceless
Connecting to other filmmakers is paramount on every filmmaker’s journey - but how do you do it?
Find Your Film a Home – 40 Great Festivals
Great fests for finding your film a buyer, best friend, or biggest fan Film festivals are a lovely break from your life at home — but they can also be the place your film finds a home. Our list has been created for and published by MovieMaker magazine, in 2022.
THE WOMEN CHANGING FILM FROM WITHIN
Women’s Day arrives in early March each year not long after the major awards ceremonies of BAFTA and The Academy. So it’s perfectly placed as a litmus test to see how the film industry is improving representation of women both in front and behind the camera.
Female-identifying filmmaker focus: Mahdie Toosi
A day dedicated to representing half of the population is a challenging task. One could see International Woman’s day as an opportunity to praise society’s journey with women’s rights and for others a day to highlight the many issues that still occur.
Festival SPOTLIGHT – Clermont-Ferrand: the short film capital of the world!
Festival Formula knows as well as anyone just how many short film festivals there are in the world – more than 12,000 listed on FilmFreeway alone – but when you go to Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, with its dedicated Short Film Market, you really feel it.
From the dynamic city of Berlin, a postcard from British Shorts 🇩🇪🇬🇧
Based in Berlin, Germany. British Shorts Lichtspielklub Kurzfilmfestival has run for 16 years and is a celebration of British short film productions screening in this vibrant, larger than life city. The delightful Aaron shares his experience and the best way to get the most out of British Shorts Film Festival.
Delicious Green Producing
Climate change has turned us into tribes, with feelings ranging from “it’s about time!” to “this is a nuisance!” but can a film production be climate conscious without the bauble-ache?
Fantastic Producers and Where to Find Them
When a short film wins rave reviews, it is the director and creative departments most likely to be acknowledged, while the pivotal role often overlooked and underappreciated is that of the Producer.
a postcard from this is england film festival
Although the pandemic seems a fading memory, some festivals are still having their first ‘normal’ event since it began. Our strategy client Alfie sends this postcard from the fantastic This Is England over in Rouen.