Bristol City of Film
Latest Activity

Follow @bristolfilmcity for latest developments and check out Visit Bristol’s Film Calendar for a list of upcoming events.

Guest blog: Communicating COP26

15th December 2021 Whilst COP26 took place in Glasgow last month, Bristol's award-winning wildlife conservation charity Wildscreen delivered a hybrid event communicating climate science and sustainability for a diverse worldwide audience reaching beyond the natural history industry. Event & Communications Manager Gabriella Carr explains the significance of the day, which covered everything from green finance, to climate crisis and conservation storytelling and ensuring productions themselves don't create a negative impact on the planet.

Bristol filmmakers behind short sensation wrap The Fence feature

12th November 2021 As filming wraps on upcoming Bristol-made feature The Fence, the original short film has just topped a staggering 4.3 million views on YouTube. We caught up with Bristolian writer/director William Stone who told us about making the feature and why he wanted to tell a Bristol story that will resonate with audiences.
A Fishermans Tale, directed by Nick Park 1976

It’s back! Cinema Rediscovered brings the big screen buzz to Bristol City of Film

27th July 2021 Cinema Rediscovered, ‘the UK’s leading festival dedicated to classic cinema’ (Sight & Sound) returns to Bristol UNESCO City of Film this week – and after a fallow year in 2020, the 2021 programme is packed with more treats than ever for cinephiles to enjoy, including a number of events exploring Bristol’s filmmaking links.
Creative Producers Lab 2021

Meet the Bristol producers tutoring aspiring South West producing talent

22nd July 2021 BFI NETWORK South West have teamed up again with Bristol Screen Producers’ for Creative Producers Lab, a three month-long remotely taught training scheme for new and aspiring film producers. Ahead of the scheme’s application deadline (that’s 30th July folks!), we meet the Bristol-based producers who will be tutoring, nurturing and supporting the selected cohort.
My Octopus Teacher

The Bristol talent behind Oscar-winning doc My Octopus Teacher

17th June 2021 We speak to Bristol-based co-director James Reed and executive producer Ellen Windemuth, CEO of Off the Fence, about the making of My Octopus Teacher, an Oscar-winning hit that won the hearts of viewers around the world.
DepicT!

He did it in 90 secs – will you? We speak to Ry Francis

14th May 2021 Bristol-based film competition DepicT! is back, throwing down the gauntlet to filmmakers worldwide to tell their story on film in just a minute and a half. With just one month to go until the entry deadline, we caught up with RY Francis, winner of the last year’s DepicT! British Special Mention Award, to find out more about his work.
Film2021 partners with William Friese Greene plaque. Photo credit: Bhagesh Sachania Photography

Bristol remembers William Friese-Greene, 100 years on from his death

6th May 2021 Members from Bristol’s film community gathered yesterday in remembrance of Bristolian motion-picture pioneer William Friese-Greene, on the 100th anniversary of his death on 5 May 1921. Also to mark the centenary, a new online discussion as part of Film 2021 with Friese-Greene expert Peter Domankiewicz, is now available to watch on the Bristol Ideas website.
Bristol Film 2021 illustration by Willem Hampson

Film 2021 launches to celebrate Bristol’s film credentials & mark centenary of Friese-Greene’s death

18th March 2021 Film 2021, a new year-long programme of activity celebrating the many aspects of Bristol’s film and moving image credentials, is launched today by Bristol Ideas and Bristol City of Film.
The Thing That Ate The Birds - photo credit Michael Goldrei

Bristol horror short creeps out at midnight for SXSW

16th March 2021 The Thing That Ate The Birds, the latest short film from Bristol-based writing-directing duo Sophie Mair and Dan Gitsham, will make its North American Premiere at leading international festival SXSW in Austin, Texas on Wednesday 17 March at 01:00AM CT (06:00AM GMT), as part of the ‘Midnight Shorts’ competition programme.
Chris Daniels, Director of Slapstick Festival

“Saved – with more than a little help from our friends”

18th February 2021 Chris Daniels, Director of Slapstick Festival, Bristol’s annual celebration of silent comedy which has been delighting audiences for more than 15 years, fills us in on the festival’s toughest year yet, as Slapstick Live Online 2021 (1-7 March) triumphantly gears up for launch…
Pierre Nyongira's Dinah

Watch Pierre Nyongira’s Dinah on BBC Arts

12th February 2021 UWE Film alumni Pierre Nyongira’s award-winning short Dinah is now available to watch on BBC Arts.
The Bottle Yard Studios expansion plan

£12m secured for Bottle Yard expansion plan

4th February 2021 Bristol’s biggest production facility, The Bottle Yard Studios in Hengrove, South Bristol, is set to expand following a major investment by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).
Laura Bayton in Hungry Joe (Shunk Films)

“Character driven stories, grounded by authenticity” – we catch up with Paul Holbrook

21st January 2021 Bristolian filmmaker Paul Holbrook has been gaining steady recognition for his work over the past year. We caught up with Paul to talk about his work and what’s on the cards for 2021.