The heart of the film world in Bath, FilmBath (previously Bath Film Festival) is the home of FilmBath Festival, the F-Rating, FilmScore, the IMDb Awards, Pop-up Screenings and more.

FilmBath Festival has been screening brilliant films in Bath since 1990. Every autumn the festival presents a great programme crammed with the films everyone will be talking about next year as well as new-to-view features, shorts and docs from across the world, plus insider talks, talent awards and special strands focusing on films made by women, classic cinema, family viewing, sci-fi, art & design and more.

With our F-Rating (https://www.facebook.com/F.Rated.org/) we champion women on screen and behind the camera.

We welcome short film submissions and run various awards including the IMDb Script to Screen Award (£7,000 cash prize for the best script for a short film) and the IMDb New Filmmaker Award (£1,000 for the best short film).

We also run film-making and animation workshops for adults and young people to foster South West film-making talent and we work with schools and universities to foster an appreciation of film culture for the future.

Our acclaimed Sounds to Silents projects are a potent mix of silent film plus specially-composed live music - we have worked with Will Gregory of Goldfrapp, jazz saxophonist Andy Sheppard, and pop-art performers The Real Tuesday Weld amongst others.

Through the year we screen thought-provoking films with special guests in our FilmClub.

If you are looking for the IMDb Script to Screen Award, please click here: https://filmfreeway.com/FilmBathFestival

IMDb New Filmmaker Award (accessible here)
IMDb Script to Screen Award (go to https://filmfreeway.com/FilmBathFestival)

IMDb New Filmmaker Award

If you are looking for the IMDb Script to Screen Award, please click here: https://filmfreeway.com/FilmBathFestival

Prize Details

The winner receives £2,000 to go towards their next film as well as £1,000 worth of hire kit from Visual Impact (UK filmmakers only). The winner will also receive an extremely rare and sought-after IMDb enamel badge and a page for their film on the IMDb website.

Sponsor: IMDb
Cash Award Value: 2000 GBP

PLEASE do not ask for a fee waiver.

As we are a charity we cannot offer fee waivers to any filmmaker – no exceptions.

We source our own features.

Category Rules

Entry into FilmBath IMDb New Filmmaker Award confirms each entrant’s acceptance of these rules and regulations.

FilmBath IMDb New Filmmaker Award is open to filmmakers of any nationality from any country.

The entered film must not have been previously optioned, sold or produced.

The film will be rejected if the Director has previous films/ads/TV programmes which have been distributed or transmitted (ie theatrical distribution or TV/streaming transmission for which you were paid).

The film must be no less than one minute and no more than ten minutes screen time, including credits.

Films of any genre will be considered and must be the original work of the person submitting it.

Where the film is based upon another piece of work it is the responsibility of the producer(s) to obtain permission/copyright clearances from the original author. Films based upon another work must be clearly marked as such.

Films must be submitted by the deadline, no late entries will be accepted unless agreed by prior arrangement.

Entering the competition constitutes permission to use the winners’ names and licenses for publicity and promotions without any additional compensation.

Multiple film entries are acceptable, but each entry must be made separately.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges. The decision of the judges will be final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into.

All entrants acknowledge that neither the judges nor the sponsors or any partners mentioned here or in any other publication will be held responsible for any and all disputes between you and FilmBath IMDb New Filmmaker Award.

All entrants acknowledge that the final winner will be expected to use the prize money to make their next film.

No cash alternatives to any of the prizes or additional payments shall be made.

The competition organisers reserve the right to reject any entry for any reason at their absolute discretion.

The organisers reserve the right to amend these rules and regulations at any time by notice on www.filmbath.org.uk.

NB: We only accept online submissions, no DVDs.

Release for submitted material:

This release is being accepted by you in connection with the material you wish the judges of FilmBath IMDb New Filmmaker Award Competition to review.

You acknowledge that the film you are submitting may contain characters, concepts and other material similar to characters, concepts and other material which the judges of the competition or their partners are currently developing/producing or are considering developing/producing.

You agree that in consideration for their reviewing and perhaps discussing the submitted screenplay with you, you will not at any time assert or attempt any claim against FilmBath IMDb New Filmmaker Award or any of the judges of the competition, sponsors, partners, or any other person connected with the competition with respect to any use of similar material in any project which is developed, produced, distributed, licensed or sold by all the above mentioned parties.

The judges agree to make a reasonable good faith effort to protect the confidentiality of any original material contained in the work.

You agree that should your film be the winner of this competition it will be shown at FilmBath Festival.

Please note, we ONLY accept online screeners. If you have trouble submitting, please send us a link and a password to your online screener (e.g. Vimeo).

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Thank you festival. It was an amazing experience.

    November 2022
  • Ava Bounds

    It was both a surprise and an honour to be part of this competition. I would recommend any new film maker submit to this- give it a go. I’m 14 and didn’t expect to be shortlisted but my film, PLAYERS was. The process was professional and kind. I’ll be submitting next year. You should too!

    November 2020
  • I had such a lovely evening with the other contestants and the brilliant FilmBath team. The judges gave constructive and actionable advice, as well as direct feedback about the films which are screened and judged live. The event itself was hosted in a beautiful venue with a warm crowd and delicious catering. And Holly and the rest of the team are hugely supportive and welcoming! Would highly recommend the festival!

    November 2019