There are other organisations that fund short film projects, not just the ‘UK Film Council’. These other organisations are crucial to the short film world expanding in the way it has. If a filmmaker fails to gain funding from the ‘UK Film Council’, the director/writer can gain assistance from other well-established organisations.
One of these is the ‘UK Jewish Film Festival’, which for 2010 offer tow £10,000 funding prizes to two winning filmmakers. This more focused and pin pointed support is crucial to expanding British film into something that is seen as multicultural, yet is still the UK’s own material. This creates a great focus point for all Jewish filmmakers in the UK.
Another organization offering funding and support is ‘Film4’. This very well known establishment has been built over many generations and works in close partnership with many other companies to produce good short films. ‘Channel 4’ is part of the same company and so allows instant access the film via television. Shorts are frequently aired on the TV channel, however the times can be obscure. ‘Film 4’ are willing to fund many different short films however they do usually pair up with others. One of the frequently used partners is ‘Creative Scotland’, who helps to back young Scottish film making talent. The short film fund limit is £50,000, which is a very respectable sum in terms of short filmmaking. This provides a great help for new talent to emerge. ‘Film 4’ often team up with the ‘UK Film Council’ because of the large varying types of funding that can be obtained.
The ‘BBC’ has set up projects such as the ‘10x10’ project, which aims to produce a number of good quality shorts under 10 minutes long. These films will produce a set of shorts that stand the writer/directors in very good stead for the future.
‘EM Media’ often pair up with regional agencies and yet again the ’UK Film Council’ to provide funding for films. The funding they offer covers a maximum of 50% of the whole project cost and can provide up to £250,000. This is exclusive to the East Midlands, where a lot of social realism based themes are derived from due to the high levels of manual labourer workers, leading towards a less educated and generally less economically proficient area. However there are large numbers of exceptions to that generalisation.
‘Film London’ fund many different production schemes in the capital. One of which is called ‘Pulse’. This offers filmmakers the opportunity to make shorts that are exhibited and distributed on many platforms. Up to six films are commissioned annually, with budgets ranging from £4,000 to £8,000. Some of the products from this program have gone on to win BAFTAs. However yet again this program runs with help from the ‘UK Film Council’.
In conclusion it is clear to see that although other organisations do help to fund films many of them do not do it independently and so even the most localized projects get a helping hand from the ‘UK Film Council’. The different fund pots help out smaller organisations from funds such as the ‘National Lottery’. However this wide spread help and control at all levels is not detrimental to short film because the ‘UK Film Council’ is a non-profitable organisation and is there to assist UK film talent. This means that their support is crucial and almost all filmmakers seeking funding will receive some from the organization, sometimes without even knowing it.
