Hello industry folks and friends of Glasgow Film Festival - we hope everyone is holding up alright in these strange and uncertain times.
We’re beyond grateful for your support and have pulled together a list of resources that might help you during this time, and highlight some of the ways that filmmakers, distributors, and exhibitors are supporting each other right now.
Photographer: Ingrid Mur
Mental Health and Wellbeing
The Film & TV Charity have issued specific mental health guidance for those working in the industry today. They have issued a five-point plan to help reduce the negative effects of the Covid-19 lockdown, primarily aimed at freelancers and those on contracts with limited hours. These points include setting a routine, staying connected, and reaching out when needed. They also provide financial advice and support for those struggling right now. Further information can be found on their website.
Additionally, Rebecca Day of Film in Mind, who spoke at our Industry Focus this year, has written a wonderful piece on how to maintain both mental and physical wellbeing during this time, well worth a read!
ScreenSkills have launched a variety of support measures to help the industry at this time, including online training, wellness sessions such as crafting and pilates, and daily sessions with mental health first aider Jude Spencer. See their full list of updates here.
Support for Exhibitors
Various UK distributors have launched initiatives around the online releases of their films, allowing audiences to continue to support their favourite indie cinema by donating a percentage of the cost of the film to their cinema of choice. Some of the new releases that were scheduled to screen at GFT are included in these initiatives, such as GFF20 film The Perfect Candidate (via Modern Films), Cunningham (via Dogwoof) and System Crasher (via 606 Distribution). Numerous venues, including GFT, have signed up for these initiatives. We all appreciate the support!
Film Hub Scotland have adapted their Pitch Pots funding, and can now offer funding support to existing exhibitors to undertake online audience development activity, with a specific focus on the communal film-viewing experience. This could include but is not limited to: watch-along screenings, online film clubs, curated online seasons/festivals. Click here to find out more.
Photographer: Erika Stevenson
Sharpening your Skills
NFTS have moved their training courses online! If you’re feeling up for using this time to upskill, NFTS are running a series of online courses, such as this Introduction to Production Accounting with production accountant, Lucy Drake (EastEnders, Holby City, Silent Witness, Our Girl) and Directing the Documentary, where you will learn how to develop an idea for a documentary and take it through to a finished film.
CPH: DOX shook things up in light of the cancellations, and moved their industry programme online. It was a fantastic jam-packed 5 days of engaging and exciting content, and it’s all available to view on their website here!
Financial Support
The Film & TV Charity, with support from the BFI and Netflix have their emergency relief fund available - for further information on your options, eligibility and how to apply go here.
Applications are now open for the SCVO Third Sector Resilience Fund, which is part of a support package by the Scottish Government for the sector to support organisations that are at risk of closing due to decreased income or issues with delivering their services as a result of the pandemic. The fund is being delivered by Firstport, Social Investment Scotland and Corra Foundation and it offers charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises grants of £5,000 - £100,000. Click here for further information.
Creative Scotland have put together a comprehensive list of the funding and resources available to those in the industry at this time, and are actively updating this as more support comes in.
Photographer: Erika Stevenson
Staying Creative
If you’re going stir-crazy, why not take part in the 48 Hour Isolation Film Challenge and make a film under 3 minutes from your own home.
Or, if 3 minutes sounds too long for you, how about 60 seconds? Take a shot at submitting your micro-short to the Galway Film Centre’s One Minute Film Festival.
Staying Connected
Our friends at Peccadillo Pictures have started a ‘Sofa Club’ where film-lovers around the UK can connect with each other and forge positive new connections in these difficult times.
Friend of GFF Carol Morley is holding her own Friday Film Club, where she invites everyone to watch her film pick of the week at the same time, and then have a chat with her about it through her Twitter account.
While there is undoubtedly a lot of stress and fear going around right now (and rightly so!), there are perhaps some positives to take away from this situation. The adjustments that the industry has been making, in terms of moving conferences online, and opening up new pathways for communication, are changes that can hopefully have a positive effect on our industry going forward.
Perhaps now that we know how productive an online conference can be, for example, our carbon emissions can be reduced during our Festival by having fewer people travel. The entire GFF team are always looking for ways that we can create an even better festival experience for all of our guests, and opening up new methods of engagement digitally is definitely something that we’ll be learning from in the coming months.
Now more than ever, we are all united in our passion for storytelling, for the escapism and connection that only film can provide. We may all be in isolation, but we can still connect through film, together while staying apart.
Emma Van Der Putten
Industry Coordinator, Glasgow Film Festival