Film Council short filmmaking fund seeks ethnic filmmakers from UK

The UK Film Council and b3 media are searching for black and minority ethnic filmmakers from across the UK to put their ideas and stories on film through a new digital short filmmaking project called Blank Slate launched today with funding from the National Lottery.
Filmmakers can apply to Blank Slate to make digital short films up to £9,000 in budget and 10 minutes in finished running time. Live action, animation or documentary projects or any combination of these formats, and film projects from any genre will be eligible to receive Blank Slate funding.
Overall, it is anticipated that eight new short films will be commissioned through the scheme funded by UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund and b3 media.
Blank Slate is part of the UK Film Council’s UK-wide programme for digital shorts supported by the New Cinema Fund. Encouraging a greater level of diversity in both film production and in filmmaking talent is a key UK Film Council aim. Opportunities for talented filmmakers from all backgrounds to get involved in film are improving, but minority ethnic groups are still under-represented. Blank Slate responds to this by encouraging talent from minority ethnic groups to initiate and submit new projects.
b3 media is a media arts production network supporting filmmakers and digital artists, from the black and minority ethnic communities, by providing a unique platform for cutting-edge work.
Marc Boothe of b3 media said, “We have seen some fantastic successes over the past two years with black and minority ethnic filmmakers who have made their short films with b3 media in London. Both Heyday and Last Client won runner up and best short film prizes at The Images of Black Women Festival this year, whereas Seeker has also won awards at the American Black Film Festival and Black Filmmaker BFM 2005 and attracted interest from HBO. Laters won a best cinematography award for DoP Tunji Akinsehinwa at the BFM awards 2004.
“At this stage it is crucial that we build on the success of the Blank Slate initiative so that we can reach out to filmmakers across the UK. This scheme allows us to extend the search for new creative talent UK-wide,” he added.
Blank Slate recently opened to applicants. Production of the commissioned shorts will be completed by Spring 2006.
Full details about how to apply can be found on the UK Film Council’s website at: www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/shorts/digitalshorts or from b3media’s website: www.b3media.net
(SP)