OPENING SHOT: Birds of Paradise Theatre Company have partnered with Astar Media to provide this exciting opportunity.

Birds of Paradise is proud to be one of three partner organisations selected to collaborate with Astar Media on Opening Shot – a national film development and production programme. Funded by Screen Scotland through their Talent Builder Initiative, with support from National Lottery funds and the Scottish Government, this programme aims to nurture disabled creative voices.

WHAT IS OPENING SHOT?

Opening Shot x Birds of Paradise is a programme for first-time disabled filmmakers. It’s a space for complete beginners to take their first step into filmmaking.

Four applicants will be selected to take part in structured workshops and receive production funding and support to make their short film. Opening Shot helps you turn an idea into a film of around five minutes in length. You’ll get hands-on support through every stage – from developing your story to screening your finished work at a community cinema screening.

Applicants must be 18+ and not currently a student in formal education. No previous filmmaking experience is required, and there’s no upper age limit.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We want to hear from people with bold, original ideas for five-minute long short films. These could be live-action or more experimental works. (Documentary ideas are not eligible for this opportunity – other Screen Scotland programmes support those.)

You don’t need to own a camera or know how to write a script – we’ll help you with all of that. What matters most is your story and your enthusiasm to bring it to life. We are actively looking for people who have great ideas but who have never made a film before.

WHAT KIND OF STORIES ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

In short – there’s no set formula. We’re open to all kinds of ideas, whether your project is a piece of fiction or something more experimental.

Good stories make people feel something – whether that’s joy, fear, heartbreak, curiosity, or a new perspective.

Our short films are designed to be made on a smaller budget – a chance to let creativity thrive within simple setups. Think about ideas that work beautifully with just a few characters and locations. But don’t worry, we don’t expect you to know how much anything costs, so if your idea excites us, we’ll help you craft it into a shape that’s realistic to shoot within the allocated budget – that’s the magic of filmmaking.

INFORMATION SESSION

Online Wednesday 2nd December 5pm

Astar Media will host an online information session on Wednesday 2nd December 2026 at 5pm on Zoom where you are invited to come along and learn more, ask questions and prepare to submit an application. While this session is free, please use this link to book your place. There will be a BSL interpreter present. If you need to request other adjustments you can add details when registering for the Q&A.

WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE

If your project is selected, you’ll receive:

• A £1,500 participation fee – we know that taking part might mean taking time off work for workshops, filming, or editing, and we want to make sure no one is left out of pocket for the time they dedicate to the programme.
• A series of practical filmmaking workshops covering storytelling, scriptwriting, visual style, production planning, and working with crew.
• Mentoring from experienced filmmakers.
• Support and guidance throughout every step of the process.
• A community screening event of your completed film.
• A production budget of £3,000 to cover all the costs related to your shoot.

KEY DATES

Application Dates

Sunday 10th January 2027 at midnight – Application deadline

Wednesday 13th & Thursday 14th January 2027 – shortlisted filmmaker interviews

Thursday 21st January 2027 – selected filmmakers notified

WORKSHOP DATES

All selected filmmakers will take part in a series of workshops led by our Programme Director. The workshops will take place at The Boardwalk, 105 Brunswick Street, Glasgow, G1 1TF. If you live in an area with poor public transport links and you’re worried about getting there, we can help arrange transport to ensure you are able to take part in person. We can also help with childcare or other access costs that help enable participation.

You can find the accessibility guide for The Boardwalk here.

The sessions will introduce you to the fundamentals of filmmaking, while giving you space to explore and experiment with your ideas in a supportive environment.

Workshops will run from 09:30 – 17:00 on the below dates:

Saturday 30th January – Introduction to the programme and story crafting skills.

Saturday 6th February– Turning ideas into scripts

Saturday 27th February – Camera skills Workshop

Saturday 6th March – Editing workshop

Saturday 20th March – Scheduling & Budgeting

Saturday 27th March – Producing & Directing

Each day includes regular breaks, and you can rest or step out whenever you need to. Tell us what would help and we’ll build it in.

Shooting / Editing / Delivery:

Film Shoot and Editing Period: April – June 2027 (you can shoot and edit whenever suits you within this period).

Film Screening: Saturday 3rd July 2027

LEARNING AND MAKING TOGETHER:

Each of the four selected filmmakers will write and direct their own short film, but you’ll also work as part of each other’s crews. That might mean helping out with props, holding a boom mic, or even making the sandwiches on someone else’s shoot. Crewing roles are flexible and can be adapted to your access needs. This hands-on collaboration is a key part of the experience – it gives you a full picture of how filmmaking works and shows just how essential teamwork is. Think of all those names that roll past in the credits of a film or TV show – filmmaking is a collective effort, and that’s part of what makes it so rewarding.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

You can apply if you meet the following criteria:

• Are aged 18+.
• Are not a current student in formal education.
• Have an idea for a short film you’d like to develop and make.
• Have not yet had the chance to make a funded film.
• Can make yourself available for the workshop dates.
• Are Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent.

HOW TO APPLY

You can complete the application form online.

Applying is simple – we want the process to be as easy and accessible as possible.

You can apply by answering the questions in writing, or by submitting your application in another form, such as a video, an audio recording or BSL, if that’s easier for you. Instructions are available via the online application form.

All we need from you is:

• A short summary of your film idea. Tell us what happens and who the main character or characters are.
• A few sentences about you and why you’d like to take part.

That’s it – you don’t need a script or any filmmaking experience to apply.

If you have any questions or need help to complete your application, please reach out. We’re happy to support you at any stage.

Contact us: openingshot@astarmedia.scot