Producers are the backbone of the industry and an essential component of short film production. Our In Development: Producer Lab is designed to kickstart careers in producing and help participants develop the skills they need to produce a successful short film. Alumni have gone on to produce features, work on major productions and be funded by BFI, Film 4 and the BBC: if you want to meet like-minded producers and learn the fundamentals of developing story and managing short film productions, this is the programme for you.

Running over 2 days, this year’s Lab will take place in-person at HOME in Manchester for 10 participants. The event will cover topics such as producing fundamentals, building a slate, budgeting and scheduling, pre-production, shooting, post-production, casting and distribution - all delivered by Film Hub North and industry professionals. 

Participants will reunite at Aesthetica Film Festival in November to connect with filmmakers from across the region to help build a pool of collaborators and slate. Participants will leave the programme with a foundation in all aspects of managing a production, an expanded network of peers, and the skills they need to make an impact in the industry.

Applications close Wednesday 29 July at 5pm.

We're looking for anyone with an interest in film producing. The ideal candidate will have good communication skills, a commitment to storytelling, and the ability to work collaboratively. Applicants might have made self funded or crowdfunded shorts and want to start professionalising their approach, or be transitioning from working in the commercial or corporate sector. They may have relevant experience in another artform, or be working as a production coordinator or assistant in production. This isn't exhaustive, though - if you’re interested in producing, we’d welcome an application. 

In Development is not a programme for people who are primarily interested in writing and/or directing. Although we’re open to people moving over from those roles, we’re looking for those who have a genuine desire to be a producer.

To be eligible for the In Development you must:

Wednesday 24 June: Open for applications

Wednesday 8 July (12:00): Online roundtable

Wednesday 29 July (17:00): Applications close

Saturday & Sunday 19-20 September: In Development Residential, Manchester

Thursday 6 November (TBC): Aesthetica Film Festival, York

Film Hub North will cover the cost of travel and accommodation for the September residential in Manchester, plus travel, accommodation and a 2-day pass for the Aesthetica Film Festival in York. Please note, we cannot cover travel costs outside of the North of England.

To apply, simply complete the online application form linked below.

The form asks you to share some information about yourself, your creative background, why you want to be a Producer, and what kind of films you want to make. If you'd like to prepare offline before completing the online form, we've put together a downloadable list of the questions asked for reference. For some questions, there is the option to answer via a written response or an audio or video recording - if you’d prefer the latter, just upload the relevant file when prompted.

Applications close Wednesday 29 July at 5pm.

If you have any questions about the Lab or the application process, we’re hosting an online filmmaker roundtable on Wednesday 8 July.

For other queries, send an email with the subject line “IN DEVELOPMENT: PRODUCER LAB APPLICATION” to our team at: bfinetwork@filmhubnorth.org.uk.