Accessibility Settings

You can use these controls to adjust properties of the website’s presentation. Read more about the Festival’s Accessibility Guide

Early Career Critics

Early Career Critics

Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival’s Early Career Critics is a chance to hone your critical and creative writing skills. With a focus on writing for and about artists moving image and new cinema, the programme will run from Thursday 27 – Sunday 30 March 2025. Since the success of our 2020 edition of the Early Career Critics, we are launching an Open Call to invite emerging writers to experience the 20th edition and take part in three workshops.

There are six places available, three of which will be offered with a bursary of £200 to support your accommodation and travel. Priority will be given to applicants based in the North and North East of England.

What’s involved?

  • Complementary Festival Accreditation, offering you access to the whole Festival programme and more.
  • An invitation to join the New Cinema Forum programme of events.
  • Workshops on interviewing, pitching and writing critically.
  • Plenty of time to watch films, attend events and participate in the Festival experience.
  • Opportunities to meet with other professionals.

There are no required outcomes of the programme. If you choose to produce a piece of writing, we can offer editorial support and publish the piece on bfmaf.org. You retain the rights to your work and you are encouraged to pitch pieces you write to other publications. We will also be able to facilitate interviews with artists over the course of the Festival.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Anyone who has four or fewer pieces of writing on film and visual arts published in print or online. This does not include self-publishing.
  • Anyone who has published more than four pieces of writing but has not published anything in the last four years. This does not include self-publishing.
  • Applicants must be based in the UK.
  • Applicants must be 18+.

Essential Requirements

  • An interest in artist moving image, film and media arts.
  • Some writing experience.
  • Available to attend in person over the course of the entire programme: 28 – 30 March 2025.

Dates and Deadlines

Friday 31 January: Open Call announced

Monday 17 February: Deadline for Applications

Thursday 27 February: Successful Applicants Informed

Thursday 27 – Sunday 30 March: 20th Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival

To Apply

Please fill in this Application Form, which asks for:

  • Maximum 300 words on why this is an opportunity you are interested in, and why you think it will benefit your professional development.
  • A link to a writing sample, published or unpublished (maximum 1000 words)
  • Completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

Early Career Critics Application Form

PDF Application Guidance and Overview

Equal Opportunities Form