Since 2012, the IMDb Awards at Bath Film Festival have championed emerging filmmaking and screenwriting talent, helping support the next generation of creative voices.
Alongside the IMDb Awards, Bath Film Festival is now expanding its opportunities for regional filmmakers through the new South West Shorts Showcase and South West Feature Selection.
IMDb New Filmmaker Award
The IMDb New Filmmaker Award is open to short films between 1 and 10 minutes with no previous distribution. Five shortlisted films will be selected to screen at the Festival Awards Evening, where a panel of expert judges will select the winner.
The winner receives:
- £2,000 cash towards their next film
- £1,000 worth of hire kit from Visual Impact (UK filmmakers only)
Selected submissions may also be considered for additional short film screenings across the festival programme.
IMDb Script to Screen Award
The IMDb Script to Screen Award is open to original short film scripts between 1 and 10 pages.
Five finalists will be selected and invited to the Festival Awards Evening, where extracts from the scripts will be presented to a panel of industry judges who will select the winner.
The winner receives:
- £7,000 cash towards producing the screenplay
- £1,000 worth of hire kit from Visual Impact (UK filmmakers only)
South West Shorts Showcase
The South West Shorts Showcase celebrates bold new filmmaking voices from across the South West of England. Selected short films will screen at Everyman Bath during the festival, with audiences voting for the South West Shorts Audience Award.
We are looking for distinctive storytelling, original perspectives and exciting filmmaking craft across narrative, documentary, animation and experimental film.
South West Feature Selection
New for 2026, the South West Feature Selection highlights outstanding feature filmmaking from across the South West of England.
One selected feature will become part of the Official Selection of Bath Film Festival, screening alongside major previews, independent discoveries and acclaimed new cinema from around the world.
Previous Judges Include
- Col Needham
- Philippa Lowthorpe
- Otto Bathurst
- Elizabeth Karlsen
- Jonathan Hyde
- John Hodge
Submissions are now open via FilmFreeway.