We are excited to announced the nine films that will be produced through our short film scheme Sharp Shorts.
In April 2021, we invited writers, writer/directors or filmmaking teams of writer, director and producer to submit a one-page outline of their film idea. After a rigorous selection process, 16 ideas were selected to take part in further development, supported by industry experts and the Short Circuit Talent Executives, to take their project from idea to script.
1st Row (L-R): Debora Bottino, Eubha Akilade, Holly Summerson 2nd Row (L-R): Jamie Rea, Miranda Stern, Sarah Grant 3rd Row (L-R): Marcelle Nuke, Wilma Smith, Zoë Bullock
The sixteen teams then pitched their project to the Short Circuit panel, for the chance to receive production funding to make their film.
The following nine films are today announced as the selected projects:
Black Wool – Writer/Director: Eubha Akilade; Producer: Tara Trangmar
On her first day at a high school in rural Scotland, a London teenager is targeted for her afro hair by cocksure class bully and must harness her inner power.
Candy – Writer/Director: Sarah Grant
Plus size burlesque enthusiast, Mandy, prepares for her first public performance with help of best friend Jenna, but instead of a glittering stage as expected, it happens on top of her car to get Jenna out of a bad situation.
Jubilee – Writer/Director: Wilma Smith; Producer: Carol Brown
Mimi is an old lady who remembers fragments of her life through a cloud of dementia, through the help of Elder her husband, against a confusing backdrop of their 60th Wedding Anniversary party.
Living With It – Writer/Director: Holly Summerson; Co-writer: Niki Rooney; Producer: Reece Cargan
Perfectionist Lee must adapt to the imperfect reality of living with an illness – brought to life as a chaotic supernatural flatmate.
Milkgum – Writer/Director: Marcelle Nuke; Producer: Ciarán Charles
An Edinburgh sex worker becomes fascinated with an Oedipal creature entrancing the men in her life.
The Air We Breathe – Writer: Zoë Bullock; Director: Lucas Chih-Peng Kao; Producers: Mark Lacey, Marilyn Edmond
In a near-future Glasgow where the air is so polluted you have to pay to breathe, Eliza, a disillusioned healthcare-worker, plans to blow up an oxygen-distribution company in a final act of protest. A gritty dystopian sci-fi about capitalism, resistance, and hope.
The Singer – Writer/Performer: Jamie Rea; Writer/Director: Cora Bissett; Producer: Laura McBride
Joe is a young deaf man whose ambition in life is to become a singer. Only when he stumbles across struggling street musician Andy, who himself is losing his hearing, do they discover how much they can help each other to become a symbiotic performing team.
Revert – Writer/Director: Miranda Stern; Exec Producers (LS Productions): Sarah Drummond and Paul Sng
A man radically departs from his rural island roots by converting to Islam to marry the women he loves, only to question everything when he is widowed unexpectedly and left with a small baby to care for. Confronted with the prospect of being his daughter’s primary caregiver, he struggles with faith and ritual in the wake of loss.
You Land– Writer/Director: Debora Bottino; Producer: Katie Mallinder
A downtrodden Scottish farmer caring for her mother living with dementia attempts to become aninfluencer after discovering the popularity of cottagecore lifestyle.
Each team will each receive up to £15,000 to produce their film. Teams will also take part in intensive production training, and will be paired with an established Producer, Director or Writer who will mentor the team to help them to deliver their final film.
If you are talent looking for support, our First Features development programme enables Scotland-based filmmakers primed to take that career-defining step towards making their debut feature.
We also host events throughout the year to inspire, connect and inform filmmakers across Scotland.
As always, please do get in touch with any comments or suggestions, and please keep an eye on our website for further announcements.
Featured image: Behind the scenes of Victoria Thomas’ Sharp Shorts 2020 funded film A Birthday Party – credit to Matt Towers
