THE 14th annual Southampton Film Week (SFW) is set to return to the city in November.

A highlight of the cultural calendar, it showcases the best in film internationally and locally.

City Eye presents the event, which had to move online in 2020 due to Covid restrictions, from November 5 to 14.

Susan Beckett, Director of City Eye, said: “We are excited to be preparing for SFW 2021 and as ever will be presenting opportunities for filmmakers to showcase their films and develop their knowledge and skills, while also showcasing UK and International cinema work generally less accessible to audiences.

We will also be presenting Music and Film events, Artists’ Moving Image work and a Youth Film Festival.

"Everyone is welcome to get involved, and there’ll be lots of ways to do that. We can’t wait to welcome you back to City Eye on Guildhall Square as well as to other venues around the city.”

One way to get involved is with SFW’s flagship event, SFW: Shorts, a short film competition and ever-popular screening event. The competition was launched in 2012 and attracts films from across the globe. It places Southampton on the international stage while fostering an inclusive local community.

The first competition was won by artist film maker from Winchester, Anna Cady. Her winning film, 30% (Women and Politics in Sierra Leone) was subsequently screened at the internationally renowned Sundance Film Festival. City Eye’s relationship with Anna Cady has continued and Anna will be back at SFW 2021 screening her newest film, Invisible, and delivering an accompanying workshop.

As SFW: Shorts has grown over the last decade, the categories and awards have expanded and there are now three categories that filmmakers can submit films into: Best Fiction, Best Artist Film and Best Documentary. Alongside awards in each of those categories there is also an Audience Award, the Regional Filmmaker Prize (sponsored by Solent University) and The Michael Fuller Award for Best Film.

The competition continues to attract local and regional talent. In 2020 the film Rose Pandemic picked up three awards, including the Regional Filmmaker Award. Thomas Shawcroft, the film’s Producer and Director of Photography said of his experience of SFW: “To be from Southampton and growing up from shooting on a mini Dv camera running around Bargate shopping centre, I feel part of a growing community of local talent, and this means so much to me.”

With the submission deadline of September 30 fast approaching, City Eye are keen to encourage more regional and local filmmakers to submit their short films to SFW 2021.

Films must be under 10 minutes in length and completed after January 2020. Full details of how to apply can be found at southamptondfilmweek.com.