Short film production hot-house calls for new British film projects

Tomorrow’s award-winning British filmmakers are being called to submit their short film projects for funding through the highly successful Cinema Extreme short film initiative supported by FilmFour and the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund.
The new funding round for Cinema Extreme is now open with a deadline of 8 September for new projects to be submitted. Up to £50,000 is awarded to those projects finally selected.
Cinema Extreme, which is managed by production company The Bureau and Lifesize Pictures, is calling for filmmakers with a distinctive directorial voice and cinematic flair.
Nine films have been made during the first two years of the programme and have achieved outstanding international success. Andrea Arnold’s Wasp won the American Academy’s Oscar for Best Short whilst Duane Hopkins’ Love Me or Leave Me Alone was named Best Short at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and at the European Film Awards.
Kate Ogborn, Executive Producer for The Bureau, said: “With Cinema Extreme we are looking to give filmmakers the opportunity to make their short films, the backing to develop their talent as future feature filmmakers, and ultimately exposure to the industry. We have seen Andrea Arnold, director of Wasp, go on to win the Prix du Jury award at Cannes this year with her first feature Red Road and Duane Hopkins is now making his first feature film, Better Things."
Matthieu de Braconier, Development Executive for The Bureau, added: "Between now and 8 September we're looking forward to receiving many exciting applications, we would like to see more filmmakers from across the UK take up this opportunity.”
Jo McClellan, Executive Producer for FilmFour said: "Oscar-winning short film, Six Shooter clearly shows that by supporting talented film-makers we can deliver innovative, smart and exciting films. Cinema Extreme provides the opportunity for the most exciting film-makers of tomorrow to develop their vision and make their short film which can springboard them toward their first feature.”
Once the selection process is completed, the commissioned projects move into Cinema Extreme’s development workshop programme: to date 50-60 directors and up to 100 individuals have benefited from this valuable part of the process. Production then takes place next spring and the finished films are finally premiered next autumn.
(GB)