Look Aside’s Short Film Fund

OUR SHORT FILM FUND IS CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS. IT WILL REOPEN AGAIN IN LATE 2026.

We’ve opened this fund to provide more opportunity for emerging voices and filmmakers. Finance opportunities are few and talented artists are many, so we want to do as little or as much as we can to help bring more stories to life.

Our fund is of total value between £5000 and £13000 cash, as well as additional support from us and from our partners for the selected short film, and for all 10 shortlisted films. Our fund accepts projects from filmmakers across all degrees of experience or past work. Our main focus is unique voices and perspectives and we're completely genre-agnostic. The fund is open for filmmakers worldwide.

Please read the outlined submission guidelines carefully before submitting.

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  • "The whole team at Look Aside have provided me and Amber with brilliant support. We feel seen, trusted and championed. A huge part of making work as a new filmmaker is feeling like you have a community of people who understand you, the Look Aside team have made me feel welcomed in new rooms. They are beautiful people, who want to make films for the right reasons, in the right way."

    Evie Ward-Drummond, writer/director of Miss Universe

  • "Applying to the Look Aside Film Fund was an incredibly enjoyable experience, as it felt like we were working with a team that really cares about making shorts."

    Yilmaz Ustunkaya, writer/director of Water

  • "It's been such an incredible journey working with the Look Aside team after winning their main film fund. They struck that rare balance of offering invaluable guidance, while also giving me the creative space to realise my own vision."

    Hannah van der Westhuysen, writer/director of Peter

  • "The experience of applying to Look Aside was seamless - the application wasn’t overwhelming (when so many other funds are), and we felt like it really prioritised the creativity of the project. Since winning the fund, they’ve been great partners, there to bounce ideas off of, and consistently checking in. We feel really supported and empowered by them, and that it’s a true partnership."

    Emily Radakovic, producer of Miss Universe