SFTN – Applications open
Full guidelines and application forms are now available for First Feature Development, Emerging Talent Shorts and Professional Development Talent Programme Bursary awards.
First Feature Development
SFTN are offering opportunities for emerging talent to develop their first feature project and want to talk to you to help identify the best routes, activities or funding that are available for you.
Emerging Talent Shorts 2015
Short film production funding is being awarded to Emerging Talent on a rolling basis. This programme is designed to run in conjunction with the First Feature Development programme and aimed at emerging Scottish Talent who would benefit from making another short before embarking on their first feature.
Professional Development
Talent Programme Bursary
The Talent Programme Bursary is designed to support writers, directors and producers to attend development programmes and talent labs. Recognised talent labs and development programmes include, but are not limited to:
Berlinale Talents | Rotterdam Lab | Reykjavik Talent Lab | Sundance Lab | TIFF Talent Lab | Torino Film Lab
Further information can be found on each individual page along with the downloadable forms and guidelines. Please head to the SFTN Contact page to get in touch if you wish to discuss your project, or for help to identify the best way we can support you.
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SFTN Information Sessions running across Scotland

DigiCult is proud to announce the launch of the Scottish Film Talent Network website, and its call for entries to the Scottish Shorts 2015 Programme.
SFTN Talent Development Executive Claudia Yusef is hosting information sessions across Scotland to discuss Scottish Shorts 2015 and the range of other development and funding opportunities available in the new year.
Claudia will be able to give an overview of all SFTN activity available to new and emerging filmmaking talent in Scotland, as well as answer questions from prospective applicants.
Dates for each session below –
Belmont Filmhouse, Aberdeen – Wednesday 03 December
Eden Court, Inverness – Thursday 04 December
Filmhouse, Edinburgh – Saturday 06 December
DCA, Dundee – Monday 08 December
GMAC, Glasgow – Tuesday 09 December
Sessions are free to attend but we do request that you book your place beforehand via Eventbrite. If you have any questions, please email info@scottishfilmtalent.com.
The Scottish Film Talent Network consortium has been awarded the contract by Creative Scotland to deliver the Scottish element of the BFI Net.Work.
The SFTN consortium comprises the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI), DigiCult and Hopscotch Films.
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Got an idea for a screenplay?
Calling all aspiring screenwriters!
Wigtown Book Festival are hosting a special panel session on Developing Scripts for the Screen on Friday 3 October (2-4pm). Ten aspiring screenwriters will be given professional feedback on their ideas for a screenplay or a screen adaptation of their writing.
This is an event for selected participants only, who will meet as a group to hear feedback from a panel of three industry experts including DigiCult’s Paul Welsh, a BBC drama commissioner and a screenwriting agent.
Interested writers should submit a two-page outline of their idea to Belle.Doyle@uws.ac.uk. The deadline has been extended to 11 September and writers will hear if they have been selected by 18 September. Please note, only writers in Northern Ireland, the six border countries of the Republic of Ireland and the western seaboard of Scotland can apply.
Scottish Film Talent Network events
Thanks to everyone who came to the Edinburgh and Aberdeen launch events for The Scottish Film Talent Network. We still have three more launch dates in Scotland over the next couple of weeks.
SFTN is a new initiative that offers support to upcoming writers, directors and producers that are either based in or from Scotland. It is funded by Creative Scotland and BFI, and delivered by DigiCult, Hopscotch and The Centre for the Moving Image (CMI). It represents the Scottish part of the BFI NET.WORK, a talent development programme running across the UK.
The SFTN will work with emerging filmmakers as they prepare for their first feature, and will also help new talent break into the market by developing and producing shorts.
Events still to come:
GLASGOW Wednesday 2nd July GFT, Cinema 3 16.00 – 17.30 (followed by networking drinks in Balcony Bar) INVERNESS Thursday 3rd July Eden Court Maclean Room 17.00 – 18.30 (followed by drinks in Douglas Baxter Hall) DUNDEE Wednesday 9th July DCA, Cinema 2 16.00 – 17.30 (followed by drinks in the concourse area)These are free, walk-in events. Please join us to meet the team and hear news on all upcoming development and production opportunities.

The Scottish Film Talent Network launches
DigiCult, Hopscotch and The Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) are delighted to announce the Scottish Film Talent Network, a new initiative that offers support to upcoming writers, directors and producers all across Scotland.
SFTN is funded by Creative Scotland and BFI. It represents the Scottish part of the BFI NET.WORK, a talent development programme running across the UK.
The SFTN will work closely with a new generation of Scottish filmmakers to realise their potential and prepare them for their first feature film. It will also support the production of shorts from new and emerging filmmakers.
The scheme is being launched this Sunday at EIFF (22nd June 2014) and will launch in other Scottish cities over the next few weeks.
EDINBURGH Sunday 22nd June Traverse Theatre 2 – EIFF Delegate Centre 17.00 – 18.30 (followed by networking drinks in the Traverse Bar) Access: EIFF Passholder ABERDEEN Thursday 26th June Aberdeen Belmont, Cinema 3 17.00 – 18.00 (followed by networking drinks in the Bar) GLASGOW Wednesday 2nd July GFT, Cinema 3 16.00 – 17.30 (followed by networking drinks in Balcony Bar) INVERNESS Thursday 3rd July Eden Court Maclean Room 17.00 – 18.30 (followed by drinks in Douglas Baxter Hall) DUNDEE Wednesday 9th July DCA, Cinema 2 16.00 – 17.30 (followed by drinks in the concourse area)Please join us to hear news on all upcoming development and production opportunities.
Screenwriting Residency Anyone?
Applications are open for the Playwrights’ Studio Screenwriting Residencies in association with Binger Film Lab. Over the next 6 – 9 months, up to 12 Scottish or Scottish based writers will have the opportunity to develop a feature film script working with experienced mentors, including tutors from Binger Film Lab in Amsterdam. You’ve only got a few weeks till the deadline so get your application in.
Staged over three residential weekends in Glasgow, there will also be two public events with inspiring contributors from the world of film. Participants in the residency will take part in master classes with these speakers.
For more information visit the Playwrights’ Studio website. The screenwriting residency programme are supported by Creative Scotland’s Creative Futures programme.

Incubator Hatches Its Talent Pool
After a tough selection round, DigiCult’s Incubator programme has launched in Glasgow. Following a national call for Scottish-based talent, 13 writers and writer/directors have been selected from 85 applicants to join our intensive development and production programme. They are:
Ryan Adams – Antonia Bain – Tom Chick – Sam Firth (also feature film) – Neil Hepburn – Eva Riley – Mark Rossi (Shorts)
Norman Bissell – Hugh Farrell (also short film) – Marcus Harben – Gregor Johnstone – Lorraine McCann – Tom McCarthy (Features)
To kick-start the development of the individual projects, the group was invited to attend a two-day Story Room workshop led by Paul Welsh, the first of three development workshops scheduled over the next 9 months (Tuesday 17th, Wednesday 18th May).

Hosted by Incubator’s partner Glasgow Film Festival at the historic Glasgow Film Theatre, the talent watched a selection of classic and contemporary feature films including Cries & Whispers, Hanna, Skeletons and My Dog Tulip, plus short animations and live action films including The Tannery (Iain Gardner), Rebecca (Nick Whitfield), Over The Hill (Peter Baynton) and Rite (Michael Pearce).
With these films acting as inspiration (and target practice), the discussion on story and script was wide ranging and interspersed with opportunities for personal storytelling as well.
Incubator’s Story Room workshop was promoted and supported by Virgin Media Shorts – thank you VMS! – with Ex-Culter Jonny Barrington and Greg Andrew our guests through our partner’s network.
At this point, DigiCult wants to thank everyone who applied to join Incubator 2011. Our resources are finite but our respect goes out to everyone who aims to tell a story for the screen.