Organizer Information

The open call is run by Born By A River, a production company that centers Black creatives. According to its listing on Disability Arts Online, it emphasises inclusive storytelling, particularly by supporting underrepresented voices in film.
Born By A River’s Open Frame programme collaborates with Camden Council and is also funded by the Future Camden Fund, showing a commitment to local community engagement in the London Borough of Camden.

Title & Description

Open Frame: Camden Short Film Fund
This is a tailored fund to support early-career filmmakers — either solo writer-directors or writer/director teams — to produce a short fiction film. The emphasis is on “author-driven” storytelling with strong social and cultural relevance. Story ideas that align with themes of diasporas, disability/neurodivergence, gender, and sexuality are particularly encouraged.
As part of the programme, the selected filmmaker(s) will not just receive financial backing, but also go through a development phase, access wellbeing facilitation, and participate in a live research project. The research component explores working culture in film production, access, and inclusion for cast and crew.

Categories

  • Film / Short Fiction Film
  • Screenwriting (writer-director)
  • Film Production

Eligibility

  • Early-career filmmakers (writer-director or team)
  • At least one core member of the filmmaking team (writer, director or producer) must identify as Black British.
  • That same person should also be at the intersection of disability/neurodivergence and/or an underrepresented gender or sexuality.
  • The applicant(s) must have a connection to the London Borough of Camden, or their film proposal must have a substantive and meaningful connection to Camden.
  • Availability: applicants must be ready to go into production in early 2026 and complete post-production by the end of March 2026, according to Camden’s own announcement.

Program Benefits & Awards

  • Budget: The fund provides approximately £15,000 to produce the short film.
  • In-kind support:
    • Bespoke camera and lens hire from Focus Canning.
    • In-kind DCP (Digital Cinema Package) delivery by Cinebox.
    • Meeting and workshop space provided by the Old Diorama Arts Centre.
  • Inclusive production support: The programme embeds structures to improve inclusion, accessibility, and well-being across all members of cast and crew. This includes access riders, tailored working days, and wellbeing facilitation.
  • Research Participation: Recipients are expected to take part in a research component (interviews + a focus group) that will help inform a report on working culture and inclusion in film production.

Application Fee

No Entry fee

Application Requirements

  1. A script or treatment (for the proposed film) must be submitted.
  2. A director’s treatment or a statement of vision for how the film will be made. (Implied by “director’s treatment” requirement.)
  3. Personal / team information: identity, connection to Camden, and relevant background (to check the eligibility criteria). (Derived from the eligibility requirements.)
  4. Participation in the research component: willingness to be interviewed and to join a focus group is required for the selected project.
  5. (Implicit) Any access needs or inclusion needs: since the programme centres on wellbeing and accessibility, it is likely important to communicate any access needs.

How to Apply

Email your application to: openframe@bornbyariver.com

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: 3 December 2025

Location

The fund is UK-based, specifically tied to the London Borough of Camden.

Additional Details

  • The open call is part of a live research project: Born By A River is not just funding a film, but studying how inclusion, accessibility, and wellbeing operate in the production process, especially for underrepresented filmmakers.
  • Successful applicants will be part of focus groups and informal interviews, contributing to a final research report — meaning there is a reflexive, impact-oriented element to the opportunity.
  • The fund is backed by Future Camden Fund, tying it to local governmental / community development priorities.
  • The programme seems deeply committed to wellbeing and accessible working practices (e.g., use of access riders, supported working environment) — not just funding.

Website Link: https://bornbyariver.com/open-frame

Fund