British Art in Motion
British Art in Motion consists of a few different stages. Read below to understand more about what you can expect at each stage of the programme, from submitting your application, to being part of our filmmaking residency, to seeing your film on the big screen.
Stage One: Applying for the Programme
To apply to British Art in Motion you will be asked to submit a proposal for a film that:
- focuses on a single work of British art or architecture, from any period
- will be between five and seven minutes in length
Your proposal must:
- outline the perspectives and arguments about the chosen artwork that your film will explore, showing evidence of extended thinking and research
- showcase your vision for why and how this film will uniquely bring your ideas about your chosen artwork to life
More details about what your film proposal should include can be found on our “Eligibility and How to Apply” tab, including the form you need to complete.
All applicants must be available to stay in London during the week Monday 9 June – Friday 13 June 2025 to attend specialist filmmaking training at the Paul Mellon Centre (PMC).
Deadline for applying to the programme: 10am (GMT), Tuesday 22 April.
Stage Two: Filmmaking Residency
A panel of judges will review all of the applications received and choose eight people to take part in the programme. If your proposal is chosen, you will be invited to a fully funded filmmaking residency in London, where you will attend a week-long programme of talks, workshops and visits designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge to make a high-quality film. This will take place during the week commencing 9 June 2025. You must be available to stay in London during this week, and to attend all the programme’s workshops.
This programme will include sessions on how to film artworks and interviews, document archival material and make voice-overs. You will also receive an introduction to copyright and creative reuse to learn how you can lawfully use existing content in your film.
Your travel to and from London (within the UK) and your accommodation for the week will be paid for by PMC. Some meals and refreshments will also be provided during the week.
Stage Three: Making Your Film
Following the filmmaking residency, you will have the rest of the summer to make and submit your film.
For this you will be:
- granted a production budget of £500, held by PMC, which can be put towards anything from clearing copyright permission to travelling to filming locations, from purchasing filming props to buying public liability insurance
- assigned a filmmaking tutor, who will meet with you twice over the summer to offer you guidance about your filmmaking practice and the construction of your film
- offered research support by PMC in the form of two research sessions with an academic member of PMC’s senior staff
- given guidance from members of PMC staff who will be able to support you clearing copyright in order for you to use footage in your film
Once your film is complete you will then need to submit it to PMC. The deadline for submission of your completed film will be Friday 19 September at 4pm. Films submitted after this deadline will not be eligible for a cash prize.
Stage Four: Judging and Film Festival
A panel of judges will review the final films created by the eight participants in the programme. One winner will be selected by the judges to receive a prize of £1000. A second-place prize of £500 and a third-place prize of £200 will also be awarded.
To celebrate all the films that have been made and award these prizes, there will be a Film Festival at a central London cinema, which all eight participants, and their friends and family, will be invited to attend.
After this, the films will also be shown for a short period in PMC’s display space and then uploaded to the PMC website.