The UKFC has awarded $59,600 each to three short film programmes.

These are The Magic Hour, a new shorts scheme for disabled film-makers; The Digital Shorts scheme, a digital shorts programme in Scotland; and a scheme focusing on film-makers from a range of disciplines, including those from non-traditional routes into film, such as new media and moving image.

Additional support from the UK Film Council's Diversity team will bring funding for The Magic Hour programme to $145,000.

Digital Shorts

The UKFC has also awarded $59,600 each to Northern Ireland Screen, Screen Yorkshire, South West Screen, Screen South, Film London, Screen WM, EM Media, Northwest Vision and Media, Screen East, Northern Film + Media. The funding will enable UKFC partners to support filmmakers and deliver digital shorts programmes in their areas.

Digital shorts investment also extends to the 4mations Digital Shorts, a national search for animated shorts from new and emerging talent across the UK. The UKFC, along with Channel 4, Lupus Films, Aardman Animations and the new online animation channel 4mations are all involved in the scheme

The Completion Fund

Through the UKFC's $104,297 investment, entrepreneurial short filmmakers finish their films through the Completion Fund. Films that have been partly shot to a rough cut stage but require finance to complete can apply for all aspects of post-production help.

The short film programmes, including Cinema Extreme, the Completion Fund, Digital Shorts, Digital Nation, the Magic Hour and 4mations, deliver around 115 shorts per year.

Encounters

The UK Film Council is also running a series of events, screenings and workshops at Encounters this week including networking sessions for filmmakers to meet with industry experts, screenings of digital short films made during the past 12 months and industry discussions.

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