FAQs

 

Is there a fee to apply?
There is no fee to submit an application to the fund but the Producer, Writer, Director or Writer/Director and DOP/Cinematographer must all be current WFTV members. You can sign up for membership here. 

 

Can I apply with more than one project?

Writers, Director and Writer/directors may apply with a maximum of 2 projects. This can be with the same core team or different team members. 

There is no limit on the number of applications that Producers or DOP/Cinematographers can be attached to. 

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Does the Producer need to have a production company to apply?
The producer must submit the application through their production company.

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We are not all WFTV members, can we still apply?

Key creative team members (Producer, Writer, Director or Writer/Director and DOP/Cinematographer) must all be a current WFTV member at the time of application. You will be asked to provide the WFTV membership numbers for the core team at the time of application, so please have these details ready. 

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We don’t have a full team. Can we still apply?

You need to have a full core team in place to apply. WFTV will be hosting networking sessions in August for those looking to connect with potential collaborators. Sign up to our newsletter or check the events page on our website for more details. 

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Can we apply for the UK tax credit?

You can apply for the UK tax credit to enhance your budget however you will need to factor the tax credit cashflow into your financial plan if you are selected. 

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Do we need to factor festival submissions into the budget?
Yes. You should include a minimum of £500 in your budget for festival submissions.

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Who will own the rights to the completed film?
All intellectual property rights for the films will sit with the producers but they will transfer right, title and ownership of delivery material to WFTV to hold a copy of the film and use for promotional or private use. 

 

What kind of short film are you looking for?

There is no restriction on genre or theme to apply to this fund. We are looking for original stories by great talent that will connect with audiences.

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Can we apply with a documentary or animation idea?
This fund is for live action fiction only.

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I have no filmmaking experience, am I eligible to apply?

Writers, Directors and Writer/Directors must have a minimum of TWO fiction credits in the role they are applying as.
Producers and DOPs/Cinematographers must have a minimum of TWO credits (in either fiction or factual/documentary) in the role they are applying as.

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What qualifies as a credit?
A qualifying credit must relate to a completed screen production that has been made available to a public audience, either through a live screening or via a publicly accessible broadcast, streaming or online platform.*

The work may have been professionally produced, independently produced, self-funded or student work, provided it has been publicly presented as a completed production.

*For writers, this may also include one fiction credit for a professionally produced theatre or radio play.

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What qualifies as a public audience?

For the purposes of this eligibility requirement, a work is considered to have been publicly presented where it has been made available to a general public audience, including through:

A public cinema or film screening;

A recognised film festival or public film programme;

A theatrical performance;

Television or broadcast;

A recognised streaming or video-on-demand platform;

A publicly accessible online platform.

 

Private screenings, work shown solely to tutors or assessors, and work that has never been made available to a public audience do not qualify.

 

There is no requirement for the work to have been commercially funded, professionally distributed or produced by an established production company. Student, self-funded and independently produced work may qualify where it meets the requirements above.

 

The fund reserves the right to request evidence of credits and public presentation, such as screen credits, production information, festival listings, broadcast or platform links, or other reasonable evidence if the project is shortlisted.

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What qualifies as a Writer credit?

For applicants applying as a Writer, qualifying credits may include:
Screenwriting credits on short or feature-length fiction films;
Writing credits on television, web or other scripted screen productions;
Writing credits on scripted online productions or series;
Produced theatre writing credits, including plays that have been publicly performed;
Co-writing credits, where the applicant has made a substantive writing contribution to the production; and
Writer/Director credits, where the applicant is credited as the writer.

*Writers may include one fiction credit for a professionally produced theatre or radio play which has received positive reviews or professional recommendation.

A writing credit must reflect a substantive contribution to the written work. Credits such as Story by, Additional Material, Script Consultant, Script Editor, Script Supervisor, Researcher or similar roles will not normally count as a qualifying writing credit.

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Unproduced screenplays, plays, treatments, scripts, pitches or other development work do not count as qualifying credits.

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What qualifies as a Director credit?​

For applicants applying as a Director, qualifying credits may include:
Director credits on short or feature-length fiction films;
Directing credits on television, web or other scripted screen productions;
Directing credits on scripted online productions or series;
Co-directing credits, where the applicant had a substantive directing role
Writer/Director credits, where the applicant is credited as the director.
Credits such as Assistant Director, First Assistant Director, Second Assistant Director, Trainee Assistant Director, Director's Assistant or Script Supervisor do not count as directing credits.

 

Writer/Director
Applicants applying as a Writer/Director must have at least two qualifying credits in which they were credited in both writing and directing roles.

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A separate writing credit and a separate directing credit will not qualify as one Writer/Director credit.

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Can I use AI to write my application?
Applicants may use AI tools for proofreading, editing, grammar checking, or other writing support, particularly where this helps make the application process more accessible. However, we ask that AI not be used to generate or develop the creative idea, story, concept, or substantive content of the film proposal. Applicants must be transparent about any use of AI in their application and disclose which tools were used and for what purpose.  

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Can WFTV accommodate access requirements? 

At WFTV we want to ensure that all our programmes are accessible for everyone. If you have any access requirements, please let us know within the application. Please contact admin@wftv.org.uk if you’d like to discuss in more detail. 

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Does the entire crew have to be women and non-binary people? 

No, the crew can be mixed gender but the core filmmaking team must have women and/or non-binary people in the following roles:  

• Director or Writer/Director 

• Writer  

• Producer  

• Cinematographer/Director of Photography  

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​WFTV actively encourages filmmaking teams to appoint women and non-binary people across all other roles within their production. 

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I have an existing connection with the WFTV team or Board of Directors. Can I apply?
If you have a personal or professional relationship with a WFTV staff or Board member or anyone involved in the assessment or selection process that could reasonably be perceived as creating a conflict of interest, please tell us about this in your application form so that we can ensure that your application is assessed without any conflicts of interest. If you are currently engaged by WFTV or Sunbelt Rentals as an employee or board member, then you are unable to apply.

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Does the Producer need to have a production company to apply?
The producer must submit the application through their limited production company. This will ensure that the project investment and producer are legally protected and that the project would be eligible to apply for UK tax credits.

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Is it possible to save my answers on the application form? 

Unfortunately it isn’t. Please note that we strongly recommend that you write and save your responses to the application questions on a word processor such as Microsoft Word, Pages or a Google Document first before copying and pasting them into the application form. 

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Will WFTV promote the selected projects? 

Both WFTV and Sunbelt Rentals will promote the selected projects and teams.

 

Are there marketing and communications commitments required from the selected teams? 
Core team members will be expected to engage in promotional marketing and communications activity relating to both their projects and The WFTV Short Film Fund.