The British Film Institute announced 11 August 2011, that a number of British film festivals are receiving a boost today with the news of £371,324.80 being designated for film related projects, which include a surprisingly large number of festivals.
This money is from the second tranche of the Transition Fund that was set up to continue support during the transition from the previous government funding strategies for UK film, that were dissolved as part of the budget cuts by the current government. These awards are intended to support audience development projects.
Transition awards that support film festivals cover several broad types of festival, from young filmmakers through black filmmakers to genre festivals and animation, with greater support to regional festivals outside London.
YMCA filmmakers benefit
Young filmmaker festivals which benefit from the fund include Film Junkies of Bournemouth, who gain £5052. This YMCA initiative produces films on social issues in the area, but also organizes the One Voice Festival of films made by young people not in formal education. Further along the south coast, the Oska Bright International film and digital media festival in Brighton gains £4,500 to support its aim to feature work by people with learning disabilities.
In Manchester, the Exposures Student Film Festival gets £4,500 to support a festival in a region where several universities are providing filmmaker training for thousands of students.
Black filmmakers festival grant
The prestigious Birmingham Black International Film Festival is awarded $4,950 to continue its work in supporting the endeavors of black filmmakers in the West Midlands. This event, the fifth BIF Festival, will run from October 24-30, 2011 at the new multiplex MAC facility. Film submissions for the event are currently open to films involving black filmmakers or black community issues.
Animation festivals support
Animation festivals are being supported in London and Exeter. Animated Exeter claims to be the premier animation festival in the south west, where the animation industry centres around the Bristol area, and gains £6,300.
The London International Animation Festival is a major event, with ten days of events in prestigious venues such as the Barbican, but as one among very many London film festivals, the £7,200 coming its way from the BFI will help to maximize its audience.
Regional and genre festivals
Festivals being supported from the BFI Transition Fund include the horror and Gothic specific Bram Stoker Film Festival in Yorkshire, which gets £3,600. An important regional festival is Belfast, a year-round cultural festival centred on provoking debate, gaining £30,667. The 2011 Cornwall Film Festival in Newquay will celebrate both Cornish and international filmmaking with the aid of £7,200 from the fund.
Other festivals, including the Edinburgh International Film Festival and the AV Festival received funds from the first round of awards.
Valerie Williamson - Dr. Val Williamson is a freelance journalist and academic specialising in historical and popular culture topics.
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