Women in Film & TV UK (WFTV) has announced the launch of the WFTV Short Film Fund, a major new initiative designed to support women and non-binary filmmakers to bring ambitious original stories to screen.
Marking a significant new chapter for the organisation, the fund will award two filmmaking teams with comprehensive production packages comprising £25,000 in cash funding, £25,000 in kit rental, in-kind post-production support and bespoke mentoring from leading industry professionals throughout the filmmaking process.
Created in partnership with Sunbelt Rentals Film & TV, The WFTV Short Film reflects a shared commitment to investing in the next generation of filmmakers. Alongside financial support, Sunbelt’s expertise and production resources will help provide successful teams with the practical tools they need to bring their creative vision to the screen.
The initiative addresses the continued underrepresentation of women and non-binary people in key creative filmmaking roles by placing these creatives at the heart of every supported production. To be eligible, the writer, director or writer/director, producer and director of photography/cinematographer must all be women and/or non-binary people.
The WFTV Short Film Fund is independently financed, giving filmmakers complete creative freedom to tell the stories they want to tell. Rather than prescribing themes, genres or subject matter, the fund has been established to champion bold, original filmmaking in all its forms, backing creative vision without briefs or editorial requirements.
Alongside financial support, each selected team will receive tailored mentoring and guidance from experienced industry professionals throughout the full lifecycle of their project – from development and production through post-production, festival strategy and beyond.
The announcement comes as industry conversations around representation continue, with women and non-binary filmmakers remaining underrepresented across many of the industry’s leading creative positions.
Katie Bailiff, CEO of WFTV added: “The WFTV Short Film Fund represents a significant milestone for our organisation as a film funder, but perhaps more importantly it’s a meaningful investment in ensuring greater representation of women and non-binary people in leading, creative roles in filmmaking. We can’t wait to see what stories emerge from The WFTV Short Film Fund.”
Commenting on the partnership, Jenny Clark, head of partnerships & marketing, Sunbelt Rentals Film & TV, said: “We’re proud to support the WFTV Short Film Fund through financial investment and access to our specialist camera, lighting and grip equipment. By combining funding with practical production resources, we can help remove barriers for women and non-binary filmmakers and, importantly, create more opportunities for creativity, collaboration and long-term success across our industry.”
