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After much deliberation and whittling down 1,100 entries from female filmmaking teams, Bumble has proudly announced the five recipients of its Female Film Force funding. Given the opportunity to make a short film for £20,000 the winners from across the UK and Ireland will weave Bumble’s core values of kindness, respect, empowerment and equality into their work. The five recipients cover topics as diverse as the love in the Battle of Waterloo, loneliness in 1970s Ireland, aging, poverty and the feminist legacy of diving in Japan. These films will be created by all female teams of writers, directors and producers in a bid to actively address the imbalance within the film industry.
Chair, film broadcaster Edith Bowman was joined by a judging panel of Kate Kinninmont MBE, Chief Executive, Women in Film & TV, producer Fiona Gillies, actors Georgina Campbell, Nicholas Pinnock and Ophelia Lovibond, Grazia’s Features Director Emily Phillips, Danielle Chadha from Bumble and Stylist’s Associate Editor Anna Fielding.
The five recipients of the funds and mentoring from industry leaders to take them through the production process to delivery in January 2019 are:
AMA DIVERS: A documentary on the last of Japan's 'women of the sea' and their fight to preserve their 3,000 year old way of life. By Georgie Yukiko Donovan (Director/producer); Yoko Ishitani (Producer).
"The Female Film Force is such an incredible opportunity and to be among the other amazing female filmmakers is an honour. This marks such an exciting and positive step in filmmaking as an industry and I am beyond excited to be a part of it and to see what we all achieve."
A BATTLE IN WATERLOO: A period drama set during the Battle of Waterloo: a soldier’s wife searches for her missing husband in the nearby forest and must resort to extraordinary measures to survive. By Emma Moffat (Writer/Director); Tilly Coulson (Producer); Anna Hargreaves (Producer).
“We’re absolutely delighted to be part of the Female Film Force to make a film inspired by women whose stories have sadly been erased from history but deserve to be heard. Opportunities like this are rare and we are privileged to have the generosity and support of Bumble, WDW and Women in Film & TV to bring our film to life.”
HATIMA: Presented with a dubious life changing opportunity, an international student faces the challenge of making a decision that could alter the course of her future. By Oluwaseun 'Shey' Osibowale (Producer/AD); Damilola Babalola (Director); Louise Ogunnaike (Writer); Funke Alafiatayo (DOP).
"We are excited to be selected as one of the recipients of The Female Film Force. It is an honour to partner with Bumble and WDW Entertainment to create our short film, HATIMA. We love Bumble’s values and its dedication to empowering female filmmakers like ourselves to showcase our talent and creativity, whilst also making a change in the film industry. We're looking forward to making our film and hope it encourages everyone who watches it."
PAT: Set in 1975, Pat tells the story of a mother who stays connected to her son in New York through the only phone in the village. By Emma Wall (Writer/Director); Jo Halpin (Producer); Claire Byrne (DOP).
"We can't quite believe this is happening! This is such a huge opportunity and one we are so grateful for. We're excited for what's to come and so lucky to be working with WDW and Bumble whose support has meant so much through this whole journey!"
THE LEAVING PARTY: In an overcrowded and aging Great Britain, a heroic matriarch must escape a government-decreed death sentence before her eightieth birthday arrives. By Helena Sutcliffe (Writer/Producer); Emily Bray (Director); Milly Garnier (Writer/Director); Jenn Thomas (Producer)
“We are so excited to become part of the FFF! It hasn't really sunk in yet, but we can't wait to get started, to bring our character Joy to life and grow as a team together along the way. Bring it on!”