{"id":133,"date":"2026-05-18T08:37:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T08:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=133"},"modified":"2026-05-18T08:37:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T08:37:26","slug":"female-film-club-returns-to-cannes-with-expanded-short-film-fund-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=133","title":{"rendered":"Female Film Club Returns to Cannes With Expanded Short Film Fund (EXCLUSIVE)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>\n\tThe Female Film Club has unveiled the second edition of its Global Short Film Fund at the Cannes Film Festival, with an expanded prize package worth \u20ac33,000 ($38,600) and three new industry partners: AI filmmaking platform IMGN.AI, post-production house Disauthority and virtual production company Mo-Sys.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=131\">Raindance Sets Full 34th Edition Lineup, Adds Best Horror Feature Prize as Festival Expands Competition Slate<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n\tThe fund \u2013 announced by <em>Variety<\/em> at Cannes 2025 \u2013 is again co-powered by actress and FFC Bulgaria co-founder Krassimira Belev, who operates through her production company First Draft, which she co-founded with Anton Belev. She backed last year\u2019s inaugural edition, whose winner, Lisa Cole\u2019s \u201cFilthy,\u201d was announced at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2025. This year\u2019s winner will also be revealed there, in October 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\u201cSupporting Lisa Cole\u2019s film \u2018Filthy\u2019 through last year\u2019s Female Film Club Global Film Fund was incredibly meaningful because it showed what can happen when support moves beyond good intentions and turns into action. This is the kind of opportunity I wish had existed at the start of my career, and I am proud to support the fund for a second time, helping create real opportunities for women whose stories deserve to be seen,\u201d Belev said.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tCole added: \u201cThe Female Film Club Global Fund believed in \u2018Filthy\u2019 when it was just a dream on a page. Being their inaugural recipient, chosen by an incredible international panel, was validation that stories like mine matter and resonate across borders. Female Film Club understands that uplifting female filmmakers requires more than just funding. They\u2019re committed to our continuing education and emotional well-being, and recognize that we need community, not just capital, to thrive. This award didn\u2019t just fund my film \u2013 it reminded me I\u2019m not alone in this fight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\n\tThe prize package comprises a \u20ac10,000 ($11,700) production grant, \u20ac15,000 ($17,600) in post-production services from Disauthority, and \u20ac8,000 ($9,400) in virtual production support from Mo-Sys, which includes access to the company\u2019s London studio and one-to-one consulting. The winner also receives full access to the IMGN.AI platform for scheduling, storyboarding and character development, a year\u2019s FFC Members Club membership, and introductions to the FFC industry network. Shortlisted filmmakers receive \u20ac600 ($700) in Mo-Sys group consulting support; every applicant gets a free IMGN.AI account and three months of FFC Members Club membership.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\u201cWe have built a community across more than 70 nationalities. We know exactly where the gaps are and we know what is missing is not talent. It is access. The FFC exists to close that gap, no matter where you are in the world,\u201d co-founder Nicole Lieberman said.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=129\">Kylie Minogue on Opening Up for a Netflix Docuseries, Refusing to Be \u2018Boxed In\u2019 and Navigating \u201990s Tabloids: \u2018Thankfully, I Gave Myself a Chance\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n\tThe fund is open to filmmakers who identify as female or non-binary, aged 18 and over, and registered in FFC\u2019s free networking space. Eligible entries are short films of up to 30 minutes in any genre; applications must include a screenplay no longer than 35 pages, a budget, a character prototype and script coverage generated via IMGN.AI. English is required for all submitted materials.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tEarly bird submissions open May 26, with final submissions closing Sept. 5. The long and short list will be notified Sept. 20, ahead of the winner announcement at an FFC event held during the BFI London Film Festival.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\u201cLast year we asked whether the industry was ready to back female filmmakers at this scale. The response was incredible. This year we built on that with something more substantial, and one clear intention: no applicant leaves empty handed. Every element of this fund is designed to carry a filmmaker from script to screen with the kind of support that is usually reserved for those who already have access to it,\u201d co-founder Liza van der Smissen said.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tThe Female Film Club was founded by van der Smissen and Lieberman and operates across more than 70 nationalities through a Members Club, live events and film funding initiatives. <\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=127\">Berlinale Title \u2018Light Pillar\u2019 Acquired by Greenwich Entertainment for U.S. Theatrical Release (EXCLUSIVE)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Female Film Club returns to Cannes with an expanded short film fund for female and non-binary filmmakers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":132,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[3,161],"class_list":["post-133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-film","tag-cannes-film-festival","tag-female-film-club"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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