RPeaPod: April Is Here 🐰

Hi RPeaPod!

While we’re counting down the days until we can crack open our easter eggs, it’s been busy over here at RP HQ. Our programming team and lovely bunch of new previewers have watched over 500 (yes five hundred) short films since January and the festival weekend will soon begin to take shape, we’ve got some exciting short films heading into production from our slate and the next Evolve workshop day location is booked!

So while you recover from the anti-climatic finale of The White Lotus (like, really?), make a cuppa, unclench your jaw and have a gander at our newsletter.

RP at Sunrise Film Festival ☀️

We love film festivals (hence why we set up one) and Sunrise in Lowestoft has always caught our eye with their dynamic programme and fun marketing, so we were so excited to partner with them this year for Cinematic Queens.

It’s a great programme of shorts, featuring some of our Women X Alumni…

Back of the Net, Delivery, Goodbye Train, Winter Song, SEVEN SISTERS, Under the Water.

Tickets and passes can be booked here, check out the full programme and we’ll be around across the bank holiday weekend (22-25 May) to soak up the sun, sand and screenings so don’t forget to say hi and grab some fun goodies we’ll be bringing along.

RP: Evolve is heading to Manchester🖊

After selling out our Evolve day in the Lake District, we gave the power of our next location in your hands and we’re very excited to be heading over to Manchester on Saturday 28th July.

And this one’s not just for writers! We’re inviting directors and producers along to also take part, with a tweaked schedule of the day and bespoke activities for these roles during our workshops, so we can put collaboration at the top of the list and all know collectively what not only makes a great short film script, and how to then get that film out into the film festival circuit successfully.

Remember, you do not need a script to attend, you can come with a new idea to develop or just to learn more about short films. Last session we had people bring new ideas, first drafts, fourth drafts, old drafts and even an editing list. All experience levels are welcome.

We’ll be diving into story structure, how to ‘show not tell’ to cut down those page numbers, developing character driven narratives, promoting short films once they’re completed, and that all important film festival circuit. They’ll also be time for tasks we set, free writing time, networking and a nice cuppa.

Like last time, we’ll also be offering script consultation sessions, where we’ll read your script ahead of the event, and then sit down for 30 minutes of tailored feedback and an action plan. These spots are very limited, so book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Earlybird bookings are available until 7th June, or until we sell out, as we like to keep a smaller group for a better experience for everyone. Head to the website now to book and use MANCHESTER15

Women X Easter Deadline 🐰

The next deadline for Women X submissions is fast approaching on April 18th.

You probably know the drill by now buuut a reminder that we accept all genres and styles of filmmaking with runtimes up to 40 minutes, the films can be made from anywhere in the world, as long as 1 of the following roles on the film was filled by a female or gender non conforming filmmaker - Director, Writer, Producer.

As part of the festival, we also have our script competition, same rules apply, except it’s for up to 15 pages and they can’t be in production!

All submissions are via our Filmfreeway page, we are not able to offer waivers for entry.

We also have an open nomination form for our newly launched Outstanding Contribution To Women In Film Award. Celebrating exceptional individuals, groups, organisations, communities, committees who have significantly advanced the representation, opportunities, exhibition, development, training and achievements of women in the film industry. Nominations close June 1st and you can read more and nominate here.

Alumni News ✨

The Young Scottish Filmmaker Prize at Glasgow Short Film Festival went to Heavy by Eve Grant the film premiered at Women X and has been non stop ever since!

Sunderland turns 10 this year! And the festival is screening some of our Alumni - Bec Evans with Does This Make Me A Woman? Sarah Grant and Carrie Dodds with The Pursuit of Independence and Kelly Holmes with The Sin-Eater.

A couple of Alumnis are also heading to Sunrise Film Festival, Sheryl Jenkins with You’ll Make It Home and Shay Kuehlmann with Happy Death Day.

Spoor won two awards at the Essex International Film Festival, Best Director and Best Horror/Thriller.

You’ll be able to watch Chicken Girl by Em Humble online from 18th April

Travelling Home by Juliet Klottrup won the Osprey Short Film Award at Keswick Film Festival.

Community Bits & Bobs 🎬

• _{Crowdfunding Spotlight: The Beth Complex - A comedy horror inspired by Little Women}

• _{Crowdfunding Spotlight: Queer and Confused - a raucous short film set in 1980s London.}

• _{Exit 6 Film Festival: Submissions Open}

• _{Women Over Fifty Film Festival: Submissions Open}

• _{Women of the lens film festival - Submissions open}

• _{Sunderland Shorts Film Festival 10th edition tickets on sale here}

We didn’t send a second edition of RP DVD Extras last month as we had two funding application deadlines back to back, and Caris’ children all got chicken pox, so she’ll be back in your inbox later this month, pox free.

Team RP xo