BFI NETWORK are once again supporting BIFA with their Best British Short Film award - so, last week, our team were pleased to host a drinks reception at the Showroom Cinema celebrating BIFA’s continued championing of British independent cinema and introducing local filmmakers to the people behind the awards.

Our Talent Executives Alice Ramsey and Jess Loveland were on hand to chat about available funding, our upcoming Short Film Script Lab and the forthcoming first edition of our short film night at the Tyneside Cinema. And we were joined by Orestes Kouzof, Awards & Events Coordinator at BIFA, who talked through the role the awards play in showcasing filmmaking talent and their updated rules and regulations, which mean that more films will be eligible for the Best British Short Film award in 2018. 

Following the presentations, there was a screening of Charlie Lyne's Fish Story - last year's award-winning short that weaves a stranger-than-fiction story about an aquatic zoo, a shoal of unusual surnames and a forgetful weather presenter. The evening closed with a talent mixer where everyone had the chance to meet, discuss projects and plan their awards submissions.

Thanks to BIFA and all the filmmakers who came along - and don’t forget: submissions to the awards, the Short Film Script Lab and the Tyneside short film night are all still open.