BOLTON FILM FESTIVAL
OSCAR® WINNING SLICK FILMS £10,000 FILM FUND
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
BOLTON FILM FESTIVAL IS BACK FOR IT’S THIRD YEAR
Slick Films, in partnership with Bolton Film Festival, is back for Year 3 with £10,000 for one bold short film and £3,000 for a standout first-time filmmaker.
Last season’s winners – BALLER by Sophie McVeigh and VAG by Lily Britton – join a growing community of daring, original voices nurtured by this fund.
Winners receive much more than cash: mentorship from Oscar® winners Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton, festival strategy via Festival Formula, PR with London Flair, and distribution through Network Ireland Television. Plus a DCP from Cinebox and features in Directors Notes.
Do you have a story that needs to be told? We’re looking for writers of all experience.
SUBMIT NOW
SUBMIT NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILMFREEWAY
OFFICIAL DEADLINES
LIGHTNING – 6th NOVEMBER
EARLY – 6TH DECEMBER
OFFICIAL – 5TH JANUARY
REGULAR – 4TH FEBRUARY
LATE – 6TH MARCH
EXTENDED – 5TH APRIL
MAIN COMPETITION
SUPPORT PACKAGE
£10k Funding
The Winner will receive £10,000 funding towards the production of their short film, mentorship from Oscar® winning filmmakers as well as a comprehensive production package via Slick Films with access to banking, legal, insurance, accounting, and much more
PR Consultation
A PR Consultation with Publicist Catherine Lyn Scott from London Flair PR, one of the top PR agencies for shorts. Catherine and the London Flair PR team have successfully led 6 Oscar® Winning campaigns, along with numerous other nominees and BAFTA winners
Distribution Consultation
Sadhbh Murphy is the Acquisitions and Sales Executive at Network Ireland Television. NITV is one of the world's leading sales and distribution agencies for short films, distributing 6 Oscar® Winning Shorts and many nominees and BAFTA winners
Feature In Directors Notes
The winner will have an exclusive feature in the coveted publication Directors Notes which has scoured the globe for the very best that independent cinema has to offer, whilst sharing the inspiration and production stories behind the filmmaking of some of the world’s most talented directors
Consultation with Bolton Film Festival Director
Very few have the experience of Adrian Barber when it comes to short films. His dedication to watching submissions and attending the worlds leading festivals has connected him in the bedrock of the short film industry. He will offer unique festival and career advice from a rare angle
Post Production
Based in the heart of Convent Garden, Onsight are an award winning, pioneering post production company that is internationally renowned for its creative technology skills. Onsight will be providing picture finishing post and colour grading with a dedicated Post Producer
Festival Strategy
Festival Formula Founder Katie Bignell and her team will create a custom festival plan for the competitive film festival world. Festival Formula is a powerhouse due to their passion for networking and attending the world's most important festivals
Full Technical Package
Cinebox, who collaborate with the UK's top film festivals, will ensure that the winner's film will be expertly managed, handling the technical aspects of film delivery, including digital formats, online platforms, and digital cinema packages, providing extensive technical support
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Pitching Support
A year’s membership to SMASHPro – the creative pitching platform connecting emerging talent with the industry. Includes tools for crafting professional pitches, unlimited project uploads, and team collaboration features to get your work seen by the right people.
Casting Support
Aannual membership with The Mandy Network, the world's #1 jobs platform for cast, crew and creative professionals. They will also be assigned a casting specialist to support in pre-production and have upgraded access to a global casting network.
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FIRST TIME FILMMAKER COMPETITION
SUPPORT PACKAGE
Script Development
The winner will be assigned a dedicated script editor to develop their script, ready for pre-production
Oscar® Mentors
The winner will receive mentorship from Oscar® winning filmmakers and a comprehensive production package via Slick Films with access to banking, legal, insurance, accounting, and much more
£3,000 Funding
The winner will receive £3,000 in funding towards the production of their short film
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Post Production
Award winning post house, Onsight will be providing picture finishing post and colour grading with a dedicated Post Producer
Casting Network
The winner will receive an annual membership with The Mandy Network, the world's #1 jobs platform for cast, crew and creative professionals. They will also receive support in pre-production and have free access to a global casting network.
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Partners
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The Jury
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Rachel Shenton
Oscar® Winning Writer / Actress
Mustapha Wehbi
Award Winning Producer
Chris Overton
Oscar® Winning Director
Adrian Barber
Bolton Film Festival Director
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Catherine Lyn Scott
London Flair PR Founder
Elham Ehsas
BAFTA Nominated Writer/Director
Katie Bignell
Festival Formula Founder
Sadhbh Murphy
NITV Sales & Acquisitions Executive
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Zoe Rothwell
Bolton Film Festival Producer
Marbelle
Directors Notes
Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Jordon Scott Kennedy
Award Winning Writer/Director
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Frequently Asked Questions
WHO DECIDES THE WINNERS
The Slick Films team and our Jury members are responsible for choosing the winning scripts.
WHAT IF I CAN'T MAKE IT TO BOLTON
We will cover your travel expenses to and from Bolton, and provide one night accommodation at a nearby hotel if necessary
ARE THE SHORTLISTS FROM THE FIRST-TIMER COMPETITION EXPECTED TO PITCH
No, only the shortlists of the main competition will pitch their work at Bolton Film Festival. The shortlists of the First-Timer competition will only be invited to attend the festival, where the winner will be announced
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC GENRE? WHAT STORIES ARE YOU AFTER
You can write about any subject and in any genre. It’s all about the quality of the writing and the underlying message
Can I submit a documentary or Animation
The fund is aimed at Live-Action short films
CAN I DIRECT MY OWN SUBMISSION IF I WIN
Yes
Can I submit more than one script
Yes, you are free to submit as many scripts as you like
Can I submit to other competitions
Yes, you can enter as many competitions as you like
Can I enter if I don't live in the UK or EU
Absolutely. However your submission must be in English.
Can I enter an adaptation
Yes, as long as you own the copyright or have clearance to use the adapted work
Who are the readers
We’ve selected a group of readers from industry writers, directors, and producers whom we trust and have worked with in the past
What happens if my script is over the page limit
We will still read and assess your work if you are 10% above the page limit, however we strongly encourage you to stay within the specified limit
Does my work need to be copyrighted before submission
No, your script doesn’t need to be copyrighted however you are free to do so on your own
Do I need a Director and Producer secured before submitting my work
If you are a Producer, you will either need a Director or a Writer attached to your submission. If you are a Writer, Director, or both, you can be a sole submitter
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