15th March 2025 saw the return of Inside Screen to Watershed, Bristol, for a day filled with panels, short films and opportunities for people aged 16-25 to gain insights into the screen industries.
Celebrations kicked off proceedings as participants of the BFI Film Academy short courses in Bristol and Somerset were awarded their certificates of completion. Having taken part in a collection of masterclasses and workshops (find out more here), it was lovely to recognise their achievement and help navigate them through the next steps of their careers.
One aspect of guidance is providing inspiration, which was received in spades via the BFI NETWORK South West Shorts event. Alongside showcasing the latest BFI NETWORK-funded releases, the audience was treated to a Q&A with In His Name writer-director and producer Shakira Newton and Alysha Christal, chaired by Talent Executive Jess Wheeler.
It’s really interesting to see what type of questions and what part of the film-making process is piquing people’s interest” Shakira Newton
Continuing to explore life on set, the next session was a masterclass on being a trainee operating in High-End TV, hosted by Talent Development Producer Claire Simmons. On call were trainees Jojo Bossman and Oscar Vallis to provide their firsthand experience working in the industry and the required skills. Chloe Perkins (Training Manager, 60Forty Films) also shared what she looked for in applicants from an employer’s standpoint.
The atmosphere today is absolutely buzzing. You can tell there are loads of people here who are really enthusiastic about finding their first roles or their next role in Film and TV.” Chloe Perkins
One of the topics we’re most frequently asked about was discussed in the following panel, Funding Your Short Film. Conducted by Ella McDonald (Talent, Communications & Outreach Coordinator), there was a mix of fresh perspectives from producer Anna Duff to director Euella Jackson to the CEO of Slick Films, Chris Overton. With so many different ways to tackle the topic, we recommend subscribing to our newsletter to keep updated on upcoming funding applications.
Closing out the day was the Networking Workshop run by Nathan Hardie (Communications and Outreach); a chance to speak with several industry professionals and fellow audience members in a safe, comfortable environment.
Tell us on our socials @makeshift_ws about your new connections/lessons learnt, and we look forward to seeing you all next time!
