A major new initiative aimed at amateur filmmakers in the area has just been announced by the Tees Valley International Film Festival. The TVIFF Scholarship will give £3000 to a person or group to make a short film that will then receive a glittering premiere at next years festival. To make the winning prize even more special, Middlesbrough born actor Mark Benton has also agreed to star in the film and The Northern Studios in Hartlepool, the biggest professional film and TV studio in the North East have donated two days of free studio time to the package.

Director of the Tees Valley International Film Festival Michael Luke came up with the idea after speaking with filmmakers that entered their short films into last years inaugural event. “When I asked what the greatest challenge filmmakers faced the answer was the same every time…funding. Making a film of any length is an expensive gig and I thought if the festival is to achieve its long term goal of creating new filmmakers in the Tees Valley then we need to offer the beginnings of a solution to the main challenge they face”.

Michael continued “We recently funded a short film for Darlington filmmaker Jim Campbell which will have it's premiere at TVIFF 2023 in October and, encouraged by the reaction from the filmmaking community in the region, we decided to build on the package we can provide and open it up to everyone in the North East".

The Scholarship was made possible through a partnership between TVIFF and The Chukka Boot Company, a division of renowned bootmakers Altberg, that will open in Richmond in January. Darlington born founder of Altberg Mike Sheehan said, “I come from a very creative family but the lack of creative opportunities in Darlington in the 1960s made it difficult for me to achieve my dream of becoming the next Bob Dylan! So when Michael came to me with his proposal and being enthused by the festivals ultimate aim of inspiring and empowering new creatives, I was overjoyed to be able to provide an opportunity that will help others achieve their dream”.

To apply for the TVIFF Scholarship, entrants must email a script, synopsis of the project and breakdown of how the £3000 will be spent to info@tviff.co.uk. Four finalists will then be selected and invited to an interview that will take place during the first three days of the festival. The winner will then be announced on the final night of the festival and receive an award from Robson Green. Further details are available on the festival website www.tviff.co.uk and social media pages @TVIFF2023 and any help required with the application process can be provided through the same channels.

To apply send a script, pitch deck and budget of how the £3k will be spent to info@tviff.co.uk with “scholarship” in the subject bar
- Finalists will be invited to an interview over the first three days of TVIFF 2023
- The winner will be announced by Robson Green at the closing ceremony on the fourth day of TVIFF 2023
- The scholarship must be the only source of funds for the film
- Entrants must be currently based in the North East of England
- An award winning filmmaker can be provided to mentor your project if you'd like
- Any technical or human resource can also be provided
- Closing date for entry is 20/10/2023