– Talent Development Initiatives

The Short Film Conference, in collaboration with Cinéma de Demain’s SFC | Rendez-vous Industry, have put together a list of talent development initiatives for short films from all over the world.

The list contains labs, residencies, platforms, training programmes, markets and forums offering structured support for short film creators. These initiatives are designed to help you develop your projects, expand your network, and deepen your craft.

– Recognised & Respected Short Film Festivals

In an era where film festivals are more accessible than ever it’s become essential for filmmakers to distinguish between legitimate, respected festivals and those that may be exploitative or misleading.

For starters – Short Film Conference member festivals are trusted festivals that work in the accordance to SFC’s Code of Ethics. 

Moreover, here are lists of festivals that qualify for:

• Academy Award
• EFA
• BAFTA

We’ve put this list together to help short filmmakers navigate the crowded festival landscape with confidence. 

– Further Reading & Industry Insights

Looking to dive deeper into the world of short film? Here you’ll find a curated selection of articles, interviews, and discussions – both from SFC and from trusted voices in the industry. These resources offer fresh perspectives, practical advice, and critical reflections on the evolving short film landscape.

• Here you can find recordings of past events organised by the Short Film Conference. Most recently, in the context of the Short Film Market in Clermont-Ferrand, we organised a discussion about short film distribution in a streaming era and money flow in the short film industry. 
• Our member Talking Shorts, has an extensive library of useful talks, keynotes, and other formats to foster discussion – click here.

Recently they started a new series of panel discussions exploring alternatives in short film exhibition, programming, and distribution, as a proposition to zoom in on underrepresented, local, and intently political models of making and sharing films: “Beyond Festivals”. Read more here. 

There you will also find Film Festivals And Their New Realities –  six essays on the Transformation of (Short) Film Culture in Europe, produced by the European Short Film Network & THIS IS SHORT. In cooperation with and edited by Talking Shorts.

• Our member Show Me Shorts have several useful tools on the website, such as Filmmaker Resources and International Film festival list.  
• Short film toolkit, created by BAFTA, British Council and BFI Network, is designed to help navigate the route into the film industry, and your film’s journey out into the world.
• If you would like to improve the inclusion and experience of trans professionals working in the screen industries, don’t hesitate to check out the toolkit by Transforming Film.
• In order to support mental health and wellbeing at every stage of production as well as to guide managers and senior creative leaders to look after the mental health of crew members, use the Whole Picture Toolkit.
• Ecoprod, together with several partners, has published a collection of guides aimed at creative teams, filmmakers and scriptwriters who wish to align their artistic approach and environmental responsibility. More information here. 

  
  They have also created a Green Post-Production Guide to support professionals in adopting greener practices to reduce the impact of post-production.

  And lastly, discover StepUP – Eurimages initiative, developed by Ecoprod, with contributions from numerous European partners and their free StepUP webinars, bringing together international experts from the film and audiovisual industry to share insights, practical feedback, and concrete answers to the key questions professionals face when implementing sustainable production practices.

Have a resource, tool, or initiative to share? We’d love to hear from you. Let’s keep building this space together – for a stronger, more connected short film community.