The BFI and Film4 have selected what has been described as nine “high-budget” short film projects that will receive cash funding in the first round of awards from their Future Takes short film fund.
Each selected filmmaking team is set to be awarded between £55,000-£90,000 to create their projects. The nine greenlit projects will shoot between September 2023 and spring 2024. In addition to production funding, BFI and Film4 creative and production executives will support each film through its entire lifecycle. Once completed, the films will be screened at a showcase at BFI Southbank, after which they will be available on Channel 4 streaming and BFI Player.
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Launched with an open call in December 2022, the BFI and Film4 said they received over 400 applications for Future Takes. The two companies said the quality of projects was “incredibly high,” which led them to agree to fund nine projects rather than seven per their initial open call.
“The response to the Fund has been beyond our expectations and the level of applications was incredibly strong. We’re all acutely aware that securing funding for indie debut features is tougher than ever, and many short filmmakers are getting stuck,” Alice Cabañas, Head of BFI NETWORK, said.
“With Future Takes we wanted to be proactive – to build a bridge between BFI NETWORK and the BFI Filmmaking Fund, but also open up access to funding for talent who haven’t been on our programs before, and then give these filmmakers the resources to really shine. Film4 have been fantastic partners, they share our desire to discover exciting talent and support them to bring their amazing ideas and stories to the screen. Shorts are such an important way to learn and also demonstrate your skills, vision and style as a filmmaker, and I really can’t wait to see how these talented teams bring these projects to life and what doors that will open for them.”
Farhana Bhula, Head of Creative at Film4, added: “Launching the first edition of Future Takes has been a phenomenal effort across the creative, production, and BA teams at Film4 and the BFI. We were overwhelmed by the quality of the applications received and are proud to have landed on an outstanding cohort of nine filmmaking teams. We prioritized imaginative ideas, urgent storytelling,
and exceptional cinematic vision from across the UK. We are incredibly excited by the range of genres and worlds these filmmakers will delve into and are delighted to be joining them on their filmmaking journeys.”
FUTURE TAKES 2023 – Greenlit Projects
DELIVERANCE
Kemi’s child is newly deaf and she wants to make things right – doing what any loving parent would do. She hopes the Pastor’s ritual will cure the deafness but faces conflict from an unexpected source. DELIVERANCE explores parental love, the tug between tradition and the modern world and the painful pressure to conform.
Director: Bim Ajadi
Story by: Bim Ajadi
Screenwriter: Angeli Macfarlane
Producers: Anne Beresford, Andrew Gillman
FLOCK
When the sheep population of a tight-knit farming community mysteriously vanishes, an elderly Shepherd becomes the target of suspicion and anger as his meager flock is miraculously untouched by this freak event.
Director: Mac Nixon
Writers: Daley Nixon, Mac Nixon
Producer: Matt Ashwell
HOMEWORK
An 11-year-old schoolgirl is determined not to get caught with the extra ‘homework’ she’s carrying in her book bag.
Writer/Director: Jamie Di Spirito
Producers: Chloe Culpin, Katie Sinclair
IN HEAT
A recovering sex addict sits on the edge of a beach car park, looking to cruise. While on an addiction helpline, and with a husband patiently waiting at home, one last temptation pulls him deep into a surreal psychosis. Deeper into the sand dunes. Deeper into himself.
Writer/Director: Rory Fleck Byrne
Producer: Radha Bhandari
THE INSATIABLE APPETITE OF LADY JANE GREY
On an isolated farm, a white rabbit has just given birth to five new baby kits. If any human touches them over the next 10 days, she will not recognise her babies’ scent, and she’ll likely devour them. Her ‘owners’ – a fiercely close mother and daughter – must protect the rabbits from this fate. But as the world beyond begins to encroach on their familial haven, the women’s relationship begins to change, and suddenly, nobody, rabbit nor human, seems safe at all.
Director: Saskia Dixie
Writer: Maddie Mortimer
Producer: Thomas Viney
LEAVING IKORODU IN 1999
Ikorodu, Nigeria. London, England. 1999.
In Ikorodu, 10-year-old Momo has been sent for by her mother who migrated to London ahead of her. As she embarks on a road trip to the airport with her aunt Fade and uncle Mahmoud, uncertainty drives them all to question whether Momo’s departure from Nigeria is truly for the best.
Writer/Director: Rashida Seriki
Producer: Tobi Kyeremateng
MAGID-ZAFAR
Two childhood friends confront their diverging futures amidst the heat of a busy Pakistani takeaway.
Director: Luis Hindman
Writer: Sufiyaan Salam
Producer: Aidan Robert Brooks
MEATMYLK
An insecure personal trainer decides to max out his gains with the promising new protein shake MEATMYLK, only to discover that hitting beast mode has its growing pains.
Director: Lucy Luscombe
Writers: Adam Welch, Lucy Luscombe
Producer: Tora Young
UNDER THE WAVE OFF LITTLE DRAGON
Lola, a Chinese girl living in Wales, searches for a fish that will bring good fortune to her family’s restaurant.
Writer/Director: Luo Jian
Producers: Paida Mutonono, Susan Dolan
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