RPeaPod: May Is Here 🌾

Workshop discounts, final deadlines and Cannes statistics...

Author

Rianne Pictures
May 06, 2025

Hi RPeaPod!

So May is here, peonies are in season, people are wearing shorts again, picky bits in the garden are taking over the menu and the summer blockbuster remakes, prequels, reboots and sequels are about the swarm the cinemas. Zzzzz. Here’s your monthly drop in from us rounding up news, opportunities and bits and bobs.

RP Evolve Manchester 🖊

We’ve now dropped the schedule (scroll below) of our next development day over in Manchester, tweaking from our first outing into the wild with RP:Evolve and adding in an exciting group activity, more structured writing time, adapting our workshops and including a dedicated Q&A session so everyone gets to ask any burning questions. (We overran by 30 minutes back in February as everyone just wanted to dive in!)

We’ve also added some more spots for our 121 script consultations, so if you want a bonus to your day you can have your script reviewed by us ahead of the event and then enjoy 30 minutes of us going through the feedback together in the afternoon and building an action plan with some pointers on moving into pre production and funding.

Tickets are £68 with our earlybird offer, and adding on the script consultation is an extra £61. Earlybird prices won’t last forever, and spaces are limited so that everyone gets a good experience and doesn’t feel overwhelmed in a crowd. Book here with Earlybird code MANCHESTER15 We can’t wait to see you there!

Cannes 2025 đŸ‡«đŸ‡·

This year’s Cannes Film Festival has seven female directors competing in the main selection. A tied record from the 2023 festival (It dipped down to 18% in 2024) The festival opens with AmĂ©lie Bonnin’s “Leave One Day” while also featuring Alpha by Julia Ducournau, The Mastermind by Kelly Reichardt, RomerĂ­a by Carla SimĂłn, The Little Sister by Hafsia Herzi, and Die, My Love by Lynne Ramsay. In the Un Certain Regard section, Scarlett Johansson presents her directorial debut Eleanor the Great.

So let’s talk about numbers. Cannes have reported that 26% of the films submitted to them were made by women, which almost exactly matches the 27% of the final programme that is directed by women. So is the problem the lack of female made films submitting to the festival? Or the general limiting number of female made films being produced and made? We’ve seen many festivals over the year use the excuse/statement ‘Oh we didn’t get a lot of women sending films in’ but the response we’ve always had at Rianne Pictures is - Do you make it possible/attractive for them to do so? Or have women given up on Cannes hopes due to it’s history? It’s more odd that more isn’t being done to bring female filmmakers into the submissions pool when some of the biggest successes such as The Substance were made by women.

AmĂ©lie Bonnin’s “Leave One Day”


Final Women X Deadline 📅

We’ve also welcomed 9 (!!) new junior programmers into our team this year, through both our partnership with the BFI Film Academy and through our programmers development scheme. They are busy working alongside our programming team as we narrow down the incredible submissions we have already received for this year’s edition.

But fear not, submissions are still open until May 23rd. Despite the online myths that festivals don’t consider submissions nearing the end of the window, there is still plenty of opportunity for your film to be showcased at Women X this year. In 2021 a film submitted on the final deadline day was programmed, along with 4 others sent on the final week. In 2022 3 films submitted on the final deadline were programmed, In 2023 there were 2 films submitted on the final deadline that were programmed and....3 films were selected that were submitted on the final deadline last year in 2024. So myth BUSTED.

Submissions are via Filmfreeway only.

Script Competition 🎀

Alongside all the incredible shorts we’ll be showing this year, our festival script competition is also back for it’s 3rd edition! Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, we encourage everyone to participate as we believe that great short stories should be celebrated regardless if they’ve made it into production yet. To help you get started and ease any hesitations, here are some frequently asked questions:

  • Who can enter the competition?
    The competition is open to female and gender non conforming writers of all levels. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced writer. No limits on age, location either.

  • Is there a specific genre or theme required?
    No. Last year’s finalists were a mixture of Experimental, Comedy, Drama, Horror and more. We want to read whatever reflects your personal style and voice.

  • What are the entry fees?
    £25 per script. £22.50 if you’re a Filmfreeway GOLD member.

  • How long should the script be?
    Scripts are accepted up to 15 pages.

  • What are the prizes?
    Winners will receive a cash prize to help development their project, one-on-one mentorship sessions, and the chance to have their script reviewed by industry professionals. All finalists are invited to the festival to take part in our industry weekend programme with a complimentary pass.

Submissions are via Filmfreeway only.

Sunderland Shorts Event

Our neighbours Sunderland Shorts Film Festival are hosting their 10th anniversary edition this month! We’re excited to see the impressive programme of films featuring some of our own Women X Alumni, along with hosting a panel on Sunday 18th May with some of the female filmmakers from the Sunderland programme diving into changes within the industry such as tech, funding and representation on screen. To book tickets head here.

Alumni News ✹

Safe by Debbie Howard is screening at Female Voices Rock Film Festival, while Winter Song by Kate Graham has been selected by Oxford Shorts Film Festival.

Back Of The Net by Klara Kaliger and Ella Dorman-Gajic continues its successful festival run at Hastings Rocks Film Festival and Blue Whiskey Film Festival over in the States.

And you can now catch two of our festival films online, the Women X Best Film winner Chicken Girl is now on Youtube and Not Afraid is now on Omeleto.

Community Bits & Bobs 🎬

We’ll be back in your inbox later this month with a behind the scenes email,

Team RP xo