Opening Shot Short Films Application Form 2026/27

Please complete this form to apply to Opening Shot - a short film development and production programme delivered by Astar Media and Birds of Paradise Theatre Company. Please read the guidelines in full before you fill in this application form. The deadline for submission is midnight on Sunday 10th January.

We welcome applications from BSL users - if you wish to submit a video application please answer all the questions below in video format and we will engage a BSL intrepter: openingshot@astarmedia.scot

All fields marked with * are required

Please also complete an Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form, this is completely anonymous and providing this information will not affect your chances of selection or any other decisions related to your submission. The link will appear again once you have submitted your application.

At the bottom of the form, you have the option to submit or save your application as a draft and come back to it later, this will require creating a (free) account with Jotform.

Do you live in Scotland?

Are you aged 18 or over and not currently enrolled in full-time education?

Are you Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent?

Please confirm you do not object to receiving funding from the UK National Lottery, for example for religious reasons.

Can you attend all the workshops dates in person, in Glasgow? Dates are listed in the guidelines

Name of applicant

First NameLast Name

Email address

example@example.com

Phone number

Home postcode

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

Postcode

Date of birth

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

Write a short summary of your film idea. Tell us who the main character is, and what happens at the beginning, middle and end of the story.

(300 words max)

Write a few paragraphs about yourself and why you’d like to take part.

(200 words max)

If you prefer to answer the application questions by uploading an audio file, video recording, or a drawing, upload your file here.

Maximum three minutes duration

Is your film idea narrative fiction or experimental? You can also select 'not sure'.

Please note here whether you have any specific access or communication needs.

For example: language or interpretation support, communication needs, mobility/access requirements, etc

Do you have a personal relationship with any staff member or board member from Birds of Paradise Theatre Company, Astar Media or Screen Scotland, or are you an employee or board member of any of these Opening Shot programme partners? If so you can still take part in this programme, but please provide some details of your relationship / employment link so we can assess conflict of interest and ensure your application is reviewed objectively

If yes, tell us who you connection relates to.

By submitting this form, you consent to the collection and processing of your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). Your information will be used solely for the purpose stated in this form and will be stored securely.

You have the right to access, rectify, or delete your data at any time by contacting us. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy

Please verify that you are human

Opening Shot Short Films Application Form 2026/27

Eligibility Criteria

Personal Information

Project Information

Accessibility

Confirmations