Following the success of the first year of the programme, Short Circuit is now accepting applications for year two of Convergence, a series of workshops, seminars and 1-2-1 sessions designed for Scotland-based aspiring screenwriters. The programme will support professional writers, filmmakers and creative practitioners from other writing disciplines who are interested in moving into writing for screen.
Short Circuit is a film talent initiative for Scotland delivered by Film City Futures in partnership with Glasgow Film, and funded by the National Lottery through Screen Scotland and BFI NETWORK. The programme - running initially until the end of March 2022 - aims to support new and emerging filmmaking talent across Scotland through a combination of funding, events and training opportunities.
Convergence - which opens for applications on Wednesday 24th November - is for writers and creatives who have a proven track record in theatre, literature, radio, documentary or artist’s moving image.
Eight applicants will be selected to develop their screenwriting skills and industry knowledge through online development workshops, peer group discussions, masterclasses and 1-2-1 sessions.
Successful applicants will learn the fundamentals of screenwriting shorts and feature films, including how to work on character, structure and theme and the particularities of writing screen narratives. Those taking part in Convergence will finish the programme with a short film screenplay and a feature film treatment, ideally positioned to apply to Short Circuit’s Sharp Shorts and First Features funds.
Convergence will be delivered by Short Circuit with Script Consultant and Screenwriter David Pope, who has worked with Academy and BAFTA nominated producers and screenwriters. His recent work includes consulting for the Rotterdam Lab IFFRPro, the Rawi Screenwriting Lab for Royal Film Commission Jordan, Cannes Cinefondation, BFI, Irish Film Board and the British Council, among many others. He is also a co-founder of Stowe Story Labs in the US.
Iria Pizania, Talent Executive, Short Circuit, said: “The team at Short Circuit is very excited to be running Convergence for the second time and to welcome new voices from other mediums as they develop their ideas. There are so many great, unique and diverse stories to be found in Scotland and Convergence will provide the ground to link such stories with visual perspectives and cinematic language that will enrich Scottish cinema. We can't wait to meet the writers and read their scripts.”
David Pope, Script Consultant and Screenwriter, said: “As powerful and engaging stories can be found in a multitude of places, Convergence, both through recruiting from different mediums and in seeking diverse voices, will support a range of practitioners in developing their narrative ideas into screenplays. Through the expanding of screenwriting process and exposure to industry practices the programme will encourage new points of view to present themselves to screen industries and audiences.”
Kieran Hannigan, Head of Scripted, Screen Scotland, said: “Films are nothing without good stories, and here in Scotland we have some of the best storytellers in the world, many of them working in theatre, literature, games and other artforms. Convergence, the brilliant programme delivered by Short Circuit, gives these storytellers the tools they need to move into cinematic storytelling. Last year, the programme developed ten new screenwriters, many of whom have since gone on to develop shorts and features of their own.”
All applications for Convergence must be submitted before 11.59pm on Sunday 12th December 2021.
Applications should be made via the online Application Form on the Short Circuit website:
https://shortcircuit.scot/convergence-application-form/
Application Guidelines:
https://shortcircuit.scot/convergence-application-guidelines/
Header image: Behind the scenes of Razan Madhoon's Sharp Shorts funded project, Go Home. Photo Credit: Kevin J. Thomson
About Short Circuit
Short Circuit is an ambitious new film talent initiative for Scotland delivered by Film City Futures in partnership with Glasgow Film, and funded by Screen Scotland and BFI NETWORK, running initially until the end of March 2022. Up to 9 short films will be produced and 5 feature length scripts will be developed through the programme each year.
The partnership between Film City Futures and Glasgow Film brings together two world-class film institutions based in Scotland, combining the filmmaking expertise at Film City with Glasgow Film’s leadership in film exhibition with a strong following from young, diverse audiences. Short Circuit aims to become a key hub for emerging fiction filmmaking talent in Scotland, supporting writers, directors and producers to develop creatively and professionally, and stimulating the creative and commercial success of Scotland’s film sector.
About Film City Futures
Film City Futures’ mission is to connect people, space and opportunity, enabling access and entry to the screen industries for all. We offer industry focused programmes that are creative, challenging, and most importantly meet the needs of the screen sector in Scotland, from the engagement of new and emerging talent, to personal and business development. Projects to date include Jump Cut, a talent development initiative for 16-25 year olds; Frontrunners, an Executive Coaching programme for business leaders from television, film and related media businesses; and FOCUS, a business development initiative for screen businesses in Scotland.
Film City Futures is a not for profit organisation based at Film City Glasgow, a screen production facility which houses over 25 companies from across the Scottish production and post-production sector, which was co-founded by one of Scotland’s most successful film production companies, Sigma Films.
Film City Futures is the trading name of Jump Cut Crew, a registered Scottish charity with charity number SC031842.
https://www.filmcityfutures.com/about-us
About Glasgow Film
Glasgow Film is an educational charity which runs Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT), Scotland’s original independent arthouse cinema and the home of film in Glasgow; Glasgow Film Festival (GFF), one of the UK’s leading public celebrations of cinema; and Glasgow Youth Film Festival (GYFF), a fast-growing international three-day festival co-curated by teenage film-lovers in the city. Glasgow Film is also the lead organisation for Film Hub Scotland, a membership organisation that supports more than 200 exhibitors across the country.
As one of the UK’s leading independent cinemas, GFT plays an important part in the cultural life of Glasgow, screening a wide variety of international cinema, classic films and documentaries, alongside locally made work and material aimed at a range of community groups. GFT also has a strong education programme of outreach, courses and school screenings.
GFT was awarded Accessibility Champion at the SCoD Star Awards 2016 and became the first UK cinema to scoop the Autism Friendly Award 2017. GFF was named Outstanding Festival of the Year at The Herald Scottish Culture Awards 2019. Glasgow Film Theatre is a charity registered in Scotland. No. SC005932. www.glasgowfilm.org
About Screen Scotland
Screen Scotland is driving the cultural, social and economic development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and TV industry through enhanced funding, services and support with backing from Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Screen Scotland sits within Creative Scotland and works in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Funding Council to ensure the sector’s continued growth. screen.scot / Twitter / Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland at www.ourcreativevoice.scot
About BFI NETWORK
Made possible through National Lottery funding, BFI NETWORK exists to discover and support talented writers, directors and producers at the start of their careers. We collaborate with film organisations and leading cultural venues across the UK to provide funding for short films, support for the development of first features, as well as a range of professional and creative development programmes.
Find out more and watch supported work: https://network.bfi.org.uk/
@bfinetwork
About the BFI
We are a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image. Our mission is:
- To support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers
- To grow and care for the BFI National Archive, the world’s largest film and television archive
- To offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through their programmes and festivals - delivered online and in venue
- To use their knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding
- To work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK’s screen industries
Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.
The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Tim Richards.
Media Contacts:
Lucy Duncombe:
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 07905202974
Lydia Honeybone:
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 07905284886