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THE STORYTELLERS & VISIONARIES

Spring/Summer 2026

Nominations Open:

February 27 - May 15, 2026

Institutional Partners Only

CenterFrame knows plenty of exceptional talent. We could have filled 100 spots from our own network.

Instead, we're asking: Who are the standout professionals that drama schools in Newcastle are championing? Who's the DP that a rental house in Bristol keeps recommending? Who's the actor a community cinema in Cardiff can't stop talking about?

Institutions across the UK are discovering talent we've never heard of.

THE WATCHLIST makes sure those names get recognised.

HOW IT WORKS

THE WATCHLIST is a year-round recognition programme with two programmes annually, celebrating exceptional emerging talent in UK short filmmaking.

Unlike traditional industry lists curated from a single network or city, THE WATCHLIST partners with institutions across the entire UK—from universities to community cinemas, drama schools to rental houses—to discover talent from every corner of the country.

A rigorous 5-week curation process led by the CenterFrame team and industry experts identifies 50 honorees per programme—100 annually across ten filmmaking disciplines.

The professionals shaping UK cinema's future aren't all in our networks yet. That's why we're asking institutions across the country to tell us who they are.

THE NOMINATION PROCESS

Slide left for a clear, straightforward pathway from institutional registration to honoree selection.

Two Programmes.

Ten Categories.

100 Careers

Launched Annually.

100 PROFESSIONALS.

10 CATEGORIES.

THE FUTURE OF UK CINEMA.

THE STORYTELLERS & VISIONARIES

Spring/Summer 2026

50 Honorees

Performers creating unforgettable characters in short films. The breakthrough performances that launch careers.

ELIGIBLE: Lead or significant supporting roles in short films with festival recognition. Minimum 2 short film credits.

TIMELINE

WHAT THE WATCHLIST CLASS OF 2026 RECEIVES

IMMEDIATE RECOGNITION

• Public announcement across all CenterFrame channels
• Professional portrait photography session with all the nominees
• Featured in THE WATCHLIST digital magazine
• Video interview (3 minutes, edited)
• Official "THE WATCHLIST 2026" credential and verified badge

INDUSTRY ACCESS

• 3 facilitated introductions to casting directors/agents/commissioners
• 4 quarterly masterclasses with industry leaders
• Access to partner festival VIP passes and industry delegate areas
• Early alerts for opportunities in their discipline

ONGOING VISIBILITY

• CenterFrame PRO Membership (12 months, £250 value)
• Monthly spotlight across THE WATCHLIST social posts, newsletters and events
• Promotion support for career milestones
• Permanent "THE WATCHLIST 2026" credential

THE VALUE OF BEING A NOMINATING

PARTNER OF THE WATCHLIST

THE IMPACT

Your institution shapes careers. Every festival you programme, every student you teach, every submission you review—you're seeing breakthrough talent that deserves wider recognition.

Maybe it's the drama school student in Glasgow whose screen presence is undeniable. The DP a rental house in Belfast keeps raving about. The writer from a Cardiff film club whose voice is entirely their own.

Those names—the ones you're championing in your corner of the UK—deserve to be on THE WATCHLIST.

The talent shaping UK cinema isn't all in one city, and THE WATCHLIST reflects that. We're not interested in recycling the same names from the same circles. We want to know who YOU believe is exceptional.

Because you're seeing them first.

THE RECOGNITION

YOUR INSTITUTION WILL BE CELEBRATED PUBLICLY WHEN HONOREES ARE ANNOUNCED.

Every honoree will be announced with: • Their name and category • The institution that nominated them • The film(s) that earned the nomination

We recognize the nominators individually:

Example: "Sarah Mitchell, Cinematographer 2026 Nominated by Glasgow Film School"

Your festival, your film school, your organization—celebrated for discovering talent that the industry now recognizes as essential.

This is your moment to be known as the institution that spots brilliance first.

Register once, nominate for both programmes throughout 2026.

WHO CAN NOMINATE

  • Accessibility Services
  • Archive & Preservation Organization
  • Broadcaster
  • Casting Agency & Network
  • Cinema Chain & Exhibitor
  • Community Cinema & Film Society
  • Completion & Delivery Services
  • Crowdfunding Platform
  • Cultural Institute & Government Film Body
  • Distributor
  • Equipment Rental
  • Film Charity
  • Film Data & Research Organization
  • Film Festival
  • Film Fund & Financing Body
  • Film Insurance & Risk Services
  • Film Market & Industry Event
  • Film Publication & Media
  • Film School & Educational Institution
  • Film Studio
  • Filmmaking Collective & Co-op
  • Independent Cinema
  • Industry Body & Trade Organization
  • Industry Guild & Union
  • Legal & Business Services
  • Marketing & PR Agency
  • Music Supervision & Sound Services
  • Post-Production Facility
  • Production Company
  • Sales Agent
  • Screen Agency & Film Commission
  • Script Development Organization
  • Specialized Equipment & Services (Drone, Underwater, Stunt, Animal, SFX)
  • Streaming & VOD Platform
  • Studio & Facilities Rental
  • Talent Agency & Management (Below & Above-the-Line)
  • VFX & Animation Studio

From February 27 - May 15, institutional partners across the UK will champion the exceptional emerging talent they've discovered through their work.


This is your moment to be that person.

Someone who spots brilliance first. Someone who opens doors, not closes them. Someone whose recommendation launches a career.

The next essential voice in UK filmmaking might be working in your programme, screening at your festival, or studying at your institution right now.

THE WATCHLIST makes sure those names get recognized.

THE WATCHLIST DOES NOT ACCEPT SELF-NOMINATIONS.

You cannot nominate yourself or apply directly to THE WATCHLIST.

Only registered institutional partners can nominate talent for recognition.

However, if an institution nominates you, your CenterFrame profile must meet specific requirements for the nomination to be considered valid.

Institutions can nominate up to 5 professionals per category, per programme. With limited nomination slots, institutions will carefully select who they champion.

Make sure you're ready if your work catches their attention.

UNIVERSAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Minimum 2 short film credits in your discipline

  • At least 1 credit from the qualifying period (past 24 months from nomination deadline)

  • Films must have premiered at recognised festivals

  • Festival recognition through awards, critical acclaim, or multiple selections

  • UK connection: British citizen OR UK-based (resident 12+ months) OR significant body of work in UK short film scene (minimum 2 UK-produced shorts with UK festival recognition)

  • Emerging stage: No major industry awards (BAFTA, Oscar, or equivalent) in your category

  • Not yet established in features or television (no more than 2 feature credits or 1 series regular/department head role)

  • Work must be completed and publicly screened (no works-in-progress)

  • Complete CenterFrame profile with all required materials

REQUIRED PROFILE

MATERIALS

(ALL CATEGORIES)

Your CenterFrame profile MUST include:

  • Complete professional credits listing:
    Film titles
    Your specific role/credit
    Director name (where applicable)
    Festival selections for each film
    Dates of completion/premiere

  • Links to view your work:
    Publicly available links OR
    Password-protected screeners
    Minimum 2 films viewable

  • Contact information
    (reachable via email used to create profile)

  • Professional biography (200-500 words)
    Focus on short film work and training
    Your approach to your craft
    Career trajectory and goals

  • Professional profile photo

CATEGORY-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

ACTORS

✓ Professional headshot ✓ Acting showreel (2-5 minutes, compiled from short film work only) ✓ Detailed credits: Film title, role, director, festival selections ✓ Substantial performances (5+ minutes screen time in 15+ minute films) ✓ Lead or significant supporting roles (not background/extra work)

WRITERS

✓ Writing credit on films (original screenplay, adapted screenplay, or co-writing) ✓ Script excerpts (5-10 pages from produced, screened work) ✓ Loglines for each credited project ✓ "About My Writing" statement (200-500 words on approach, influences, themes) ✓ Links to finished films

CINEMATOGRAPHERS

✓ Cinematography reel (3-5 minutes of best work) ✓ High-resolution stills from your work (minimum 5 images) ✓ Technical approach statement (200-400 words on visual philosophy) ✓ Detailed credits: Film title, director, format/camera used, festival selections ✓ Links to complete films ✓ Optional: Technical specifications, lighting diagrams, camera reports

COSTUME DESIGNERS

✓ Design portfolio with mood boards and costume photographs (minimum 10 images) ✓ Character costume breakdowns with research materials ✓ "About My Design Process" statement (300-500 words) ✓ Detailed credits: Film title, director, period/genre, festival selections ✓ Behind-the-scenes photos showing costume development ✓ Links to finished films ✓ Optional: Budget strategies, sourcing methods, fabric swatches

CASTING DIRECTORS

✓ Casting portfolio (3-5 projects with detailed credits) ✓ "About My Casting Process" statement (300-500 words) ✓ Testimonials from directors or actors (minimum 2) ✓ Links to films you've cast ✓ Notable actors discovered or cast (with permission to mention them) ✓ List of cast members who've gone on to major bookings post-film ✓ Substantial casting involvement (not just assistant without decision-making input)

DIRECTORS

✓ Director's reel (3-5 minutes showing range and style) ✓ Filmmaker statement (300-500 words on approach and influences) ✓ Detailed credits: Film title, key collaborators, festival selections ✓ Production stills or behind-the-scenes materials ✓ Links to complete films ✓ Optional: Director's awards, press coverage

PRODUCERS

✓ Producer case studies (2-3 detailed project breakdowns) ✓ Producer statement (300-500 words on approach and philosophy) ✓ Detailed credits: Film title, director, budget range, team size, festival selections ✓ Evidence of produced work (production stills, behind-the-scenes materials) ✓ Links to complete films ✓ Substantial creative and logistical role (not just line producer or coordinator without creative input) ✓ Optional: Awards, press coverage, budget management examples

EDITORS

✓ Editing reel (3-5 minutes showing pacing, rhythm, storytelling ability) ✓ Editorial approach statement (200-400 words on your process) ✓ Detailed credits: Film title, director, editing software used, festival selections ✓ Links to complete films ✓ Optional: Before/after sequences, director testimonials

PRODUCTION DESIGNERS

✓ Design portfolio with mood boards, sketches, and set photos (minimum 10 images) ✓ Production photographs showing finished designs ✓ "About My Design Process" statement (300-500 words) ✓ Detailed credits: Film title, director, cinematographer, festival selections ✓ Links to finished films ✓ Optional: Budget breakdowns, sourcing strategies, design evolution documents

COMPOSERS

✓ Music reel (3-5 minutes of best cues and themes) ✓ Score excerpts or sheet music samples (PDF format) ✓ Compositional approach statement (200-400 words on process and influences) ✓ Detailed credits: Film title, director, instrumentation used, festival selections ✓ Links to films you've scored (with timestamps for key musical moments) ✓ Original compositions written specifically for the films (not music supervision or library music) ✓ Optional: Recording session photos, notation samples, director testimonials

CRITICAL REMINDERS

Incomplete profiles cannot be considered, regardless of institutional support.

All materials must be uploaded to your CenterFrame profile before nomination deadlines.

Password-protected screeners are acceptable, but links must work when accessed.

Festival recognition is required. Self-released or non-festival films do not qualify.

You must be able to provide working links to view your films (festival laurels alone are not sufficient).

Even if you cannot nominate yourself, you can ensure that when an institution champions your work,

your profile is ready to support that nomination.

Incomplete profiles will not be considered, regardless of who nominates you.

Update your profile now. Be ready when opportunity comes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FOR INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS

FOR FILMMAKERS

GENERAL