Bumble has confirmed the shortlist for its all-female film fund.
The dating app announced in April that it would offer five filmmakers a £20,000 grant to create a short film. The scheme, named The Female Film Force, is aimed exclusively for female writers, directors and producers to offer them a gateway into the industry.
At the moment the shortlist includes ten projects, with the final five expected to be announced in August. The films are due to be released in January.
Radio presenter Edith Bowman, who is also overseeing the project, told Deadline Hollywood: “The film industry has been in the spotlight for many months and although there has been a great deal of change and positive steps in the right direction, there is still a long way to go.
“We need parity across the industry. We need to see more stories by women, about women and told by women.
“Initiatives like The Female Film Force will give women from all backgrounds the opportunity to tell their story and be supported by the film industry throughout the process.”
The ten shortlisted filmmakers are: Alexandra Blue, Christine Hartland, Daisy Stenham, Emma Moffat, Emma Wall, Georgina Yukiko Donovan, Helena Sutcliffe, Karen Turner, Oluwaseun ‘Shey’ Osibowale and Pratyusha Gupta.
This announcement comes just after it was confirmed that Whitney Wolfe Herd has joined Imagine Entertainment’s Board of Directors. This could indicate some similar competitions being run in the future.
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