In brief: ArtHouse Jersey and the 13th Parish Jersey International Film Festival have joined forces to offer a new £10,000 award for local filmmakers. Funded by a private donation, the prize covers production costs for an original short film, mentorship, and a premiere slot at the festival in May 2027.
A New Stage for Jersey Filmmaking
Jersey’s creative sector has a new reason to celebrate. ArtHouse Jersey and the 13th Parish Jersey International Film Festival have announced a partnership to deliver a £10,000 filmmaking award aimed at early to mid-career filmmakers with a connection to the Island. Channel Eye reports that the award, made possible through a private donation, will fund the production of an original short film, provide mentorship, and give the finished work a premiere platform at the 13th Parish festival in May 2027.
For a small island with a big creative community, this is no small thing. Short film is often the proving ground where genuine talent announces itself, and a £10,000 budget, combined with professional mentorship and a guaranteed festival screening, is a meaningful package for any filmmaker at the start of their career.
Who Can Apply and What They Need
The eligibility criteria are straightforward but deliberate. Applicants must be resident in Jersey or have a clear and active connection to the Island. Proposed films must be predominantly shot in Jersey and must not yet have entered production. Organisers are looking for projects that show originality, a distinctive creative vision, and the potential to travel the film festival circuit beyond the Island’s shores.
Practicality matters too. Applicants must demonstrate that their project can realistically be completed within the available budget and timeframe. An independent judging panel, comprising representatives from both ArtHouse Jersey and the 13th Parish festival alongside an independent film industry professional, will assess submissions on creative strength, feasibility, audience potential, and the filmmaker’s career development.
What the Organisers Say
Tom Dingle, Chief Executive of ArtHouse Jersey, struck an encouraging tone: “Jersey has talented filmmakers with stories worth telling and through a generous private donation, we want to help them bring those stories to life. We’re really pleased to be partnering with 13th Parish Jersey International Film Festival, whose work has been so important in developing the Island’s film community. Together, we hope this award will give local filmmakers the support, confidence and opportunity to take the next step in their careers.”
Úna Langlois, Co-Director and Film Programmer for the 13th Parish festival, pointed to seven years of the festival as evidence of what is possible: “Throughout the seven years of the festival, in showcasing filmmaking talent, we have seen the great potential for a new wave of Jersey filmmaking. Short film is a great art form in itself, and this award is designed to encourage original Jersey voices.”
The 13th Parish festival has spent the better part of a decade building an audience for serious cinema in Jersey, and its partnership with ArtHouse Jersey signals a shared ambition to move from showcasing outside talent to nurturing homegrown voices.
Source: Channel Eye
