Lighthouse awarded management of BFI Film Fund Shorts 2012
Brighton-based digital culture agency, Lighthouse, is delighted to have been selected to manage the BFI Film Fund’s new fund for short film. The BFI is the lead body for film in the UK with responsibility for championing emerging and world-class filmmakers.
Lighthouse - who will work in partnership with producer, Nicky Bentham of Neon Films and independent development producer Becca Ellson - was appointed as the manager of the BFI’s one-year short film fund, following an open call in September 2011, to which 25 organisations nationwide applied.
Lighthouse was selected in recognition of its exceptional hands-on work with UK filmmakers, and the successful delivery of schemes such as BBC Drama Shorts and Guiding Lights, the UK’s leading film mentoring programme, which connects film talent with some the industry's biggest names, including Sam Mendes, Tim Bevan, Barbara Broccoli and Kenneth Branagh.
This news follows recent significant achievements and awards for the organisation, including the presentation of ambitious works from internationally recognised artist filmmakers Kutlug Ataman and Lynette Wallworth for Brighton Festival; the launch of new commissions in association with the Cultural Olympiad; the launch of Happenstance, a new collaboration with Site Gallery, Sheffield and Spike Island, Bristol; and the success of last year’s Brighton Digital Festival.
Honor Harger, Director of Lighthouse comments: “As a digital culture agency that commissions vibrant and inspirational work, which shows how important artists and filmmakers are in our changing media landscape, we are thrilled to be managing a programme that will stimulate outstanding new work. We are looking forward to working with some of the UK’s most promising filmmakers, and exploring ways their work can reach new audiences.”
Chris Collins, BFI Film Fund Senior Executive comments: “The team at Lighthouse have a strong track record of working successfully with UK film talent, helping to connect filmmakers with high profile mentors and overseeing the development and production of short films which have gone on to garner BAFTA and Oscar® recognition. We’re delighted to announce their appointment as the management company for Film Fund Shorts 2012 and we’re already excited to see the films and filmmakers which will emerge from the scheme.”
The BFI Film Fund’s short film scheme will support emerging filmmaking talent and provide filmmakers with opportunities to demonstrate their feature film potential. Up to twenty shorts will be commissioned at budgets ranging from £25,000 to £50,000 per film.
Emily Kyriakides, Programme Producer at Lighthouse, will work in partnership with Nicky Bentham, who co-produced Duncan Jones’ BAFTA award winning Moon, and Becca Ellson. Together, they have credits on 28 short films and 43 feature films that have screened at festivals including Sundance, Cannes, Tribeca, Edinburgh, South By SouthWest and Venice. They have won several prestigious awards including a BAFTA and two BIFAs, and been nominated for many more, including an Academy Award. Together, they will oversee the selection and executive production of the films supported through the scheme.
The short film fund, which launches this February, will sit alongside Lighthouse’s existing programmes of digital art, film and moving image, which include exhibitions, commissions, screenings, performances, education and events, which are presented locally in Brighton, nationally and internationally.
