Short Circuit is committed to offering clear and accessible application processes that are open to everyone.
We can provide this information in alternative formats including:
We can also offer support tailored to individual requests including:
Please email the Short Circuit team at hello@shortcircuit.scot if you require support to make your application.
Short Circuit is looking to build a complimentary group of participants from a range of backgrounds and skills who may have previously produced low/no budget short films. Applications are encouraged from those that have a passion for bringing stories to the screen and are looking to make the transition to fiction from documentary or experimental film, as well as practitioners working in other mediums such as television, theatre and other forms of visual and/or performing arts.
Producer Accelerator will take place in-person at Film City Glasgow across 4 days in January (Friday 26th and Saturday 27th) and March (Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd) 2024 in the form of two 2-day workshops. Short Circuit will select up to 8 applicants who will develop their producing skills and industry knowledge through development workshops, masterclasses and 1-2-1 mentoring sessions.
Participants will take part in training and networking sessions from industry speakers and will be matched with a carefully selected mentor that they will work with until April 2024. There is no cost to participate in the programme.
Successful applicants will learn the fundamentals of producing including understanding the development process; working with writers and directors; managing talent relationships; budgeting and financing; legal and distribution; and the lifecycle of a project from inception, through to physical production and delivery. The training days will be compulsory for the selected participants and will take place entirely online.
Applicants will finish the programme ideally positioned to produce projects that are funded through Short Circuit’s Sharp Shorts scheme.
Producer Accelerator will be delivered by Short Circuit with film producer Irune Gurtubai.
Irune’s second feature film, Limbo (Ben Sharrock, 2020), produced through her company Caravan Cinema, was part of the Cannes 2020 Official Selection and had its world premiere at TIFF. She received the BIFA Breakthrough Producer award for her work on the film. Limbo was nominated for two BAFTA awards for Best British Film and Outstanding Debut and it won four BAFTA Scotland Awards including Best Film.
Limbo was one of the top performing British independent films at the UK and Ireland box office for 2021 and received worldwide distribution by Focus Features and Universal Pictures.
Irune produced her first feature film Pikadero in 2015. Pikadero premiered at the San Sebastian International Film Festival and continued to have a successful festival trajectory, winning several awards including the Michael Powell Award for Best British Film at Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Critic’s Choice Award at Zurich Film Festival, the FIPRESCI Award and Best Feature Award at Kiev International Film Festival, and the Cineuropa Award to the Best European Film at Brussels IFF, amongst others. Pikadero was released domestically in cinemas across Spain and is now available on VoD internationally.
Prior to that, Irune’s graduation short film Patata Tortilla won two BAFTA New Talent Awards for Best Drama and Best Script. She has also worked at Sales and Distribution company Altitude Films in London and in commercials production in Dubai and Spain.
If you have personal access needs that will incur a cost during the period you are taking part in the programme, you can include these costs as part of your application. These costs are not just Disability access focused and may also include additional costs that help reduce barriers faced by you as a creator. We define such needs as specific support required in relation to a protected characteristic of the Equality Act.
If you are unsure whether your needs can be covered, please contact a member of the Short Circuit team at hello@shortcircuit.scot to discuss.
Access costs in this context can include, but are not limited to, the following:
If you require support for such costs, you would include them under the category Access Support.
Submissions are invited from Scotland-based producers who have yet to make a funded short film. Applications are encouraged from those that have a passion for bringing stories to the screen and are looking to make the transition to fiction from documentary or experimental film, as well as practitioners working in other mediums such as television, theatre and other forms of visual and/or performing arts.
Eligibility Checklist:
Producer Accelerator is an inclusive programme and we are aware that within the screen industry that Disabled and D/deaf people, people of the global majority, women, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex people (LGBTQI+), and those who have been socially and economically disadvantaged by their circumstances and upbringing are proportionately marginalised. We encourage applications from individuals who are currently under-represented within the sector and seek to foster equal opportunities for new and emerging talent from diverse backgrounds, with support on hand for those who need it.
Applicants will need to submit a completed online application form containing the following:
You will also need to complete an Equal Opportunities online questionnaire.
Once you have submitted, you will be sent an email confirming that we have received your application. If you have not received such email confirmation within five working days of your submission, please contact us by emailing hello@shortcircuit.scot.
All applications must be submitted by 10am on Tuesday 21st November 2023.
Please read both the Guidelines and the FAQs below carefully before submitting your application.
Short Circuit will select up to 8 applicants who will develop their producing skills and industry knowledge through in-person development workshops, masterclasses and 1-2-1 mentoring sessions.
Candidates that submit their applications by the deadline and meet all the eligibility criteria will have their applications assessed in full.
Successful applicants will be notified no later than 5pm on Friday 15th December 2023
If your application is eligible, an assessor will look at your application, taking into account the following criteria:
Application Deadline: 10am on Tuesday 21st November 2023
Course Dates:
Day 1: Friday 26th January 2024
Day 2: Saturday 27th January 2024
Day 3: Friday 1st March 2024
Day 4: Saturday 2nd March 2024
All applications must be submitted by 10am on Tuesday 21st November 2023 via the application form here.
Applications will be read and assessed by the Short Circuit team, external assessors and Course Leader.
Yes, Producer Accelerator is primarily for Scotland-based producers who have yet to make a funded short film.
Successful applicants will be notified no later than 5pm on Friday 15th December 2023
This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate why we should offer you a place on the course; tell us about your background as a creative, why you’re interested in producing films, and your career aspirations.
A film producer credit is not required to apply for this opportunity, however experience in creating short-form content and a passion for bringing stories to the screen is advantageous. We are looking for applicants that are interested in making the transition to fiction from documentary or experimental film, as well as practitioners working in other mediums such as television, theatre and other forms of visual and/or performing arts.
No, you must be resident in Scotland to be eligible.
No, you cannot apply if you are currently enrolled full-time in further or higher education.
No, you must be over 18 to apply to Producer Accelerator. If you’re 16-25 years of age, passionate about film and interested in a career in the film industry, you should get involved in the BFI Film Academy. Find out more here: https://www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-film-academy-opportunities-young-creatives.
There is a space in the application form for you to inform us of any access requirements you might have, including those relating to a disability, communication support or contribution to childcare.
The course is not full-time, though you should be prepared to devote significant time to training dates and your own personal development. It is up to you to manage your workload for the course alongside your existing commitments. Key course dates for Producer Accelerator are Friday 26th and Saturday 27th of January, and Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd March 2024.
