City Eye Film Network
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City Eye's Monthly Networking event for anyone working in or interested in Film!
The City Eye Film Network meets on the second Tuesday of each month. Join local creatives and industry professionals for informal networking; the chance to meet and discuss your projects, careers and development, and to find out what resources and support there is for you - at City Eye and other agencies, and from each other. Additionally, each month we invite a different guest speaker to share their knowledge and experience and join in the conversation. Here’s a brief glimpse as to what you can expect from the City Eye Film Network:
City Eye is grateful to acknowledge the support of Camera Crate, helping us to ensure that the Film Network is accessible to all.
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If you have thoughts or ideas for particular topics or insights that we might offer at these events in the coming months, or have any other feedback on what we've offered so far, please let us know by filling out our feedback form.
Future dates for City Eye Film Network: 10 June 2025 8 July 2025 12 August 2025 ... and every second Tuesday of the month thereafter! |
Upcoming Network Meetings
June Film Network
📅 Date: 10 June 2025
⏰ Time: 7:00–9:00 PM
📍 Location: City Eye, Southampton
📅 Date: 10 June 2025
⏰ Time: 7:00–9:00 PM
📍 Location: City Eye, Southampton
Previous Network Meetings
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May 2025
We welcomed acclaimed director Edward Palmer for the Launch of SFW: Shorts 2025! A familiar face at Southampton Film Week, Ed was a triple award-winner in 2023 for The Deal and won the Regional Filmmaker Award in 2024 for Stray. Ed shared his wisdom and experience with our network. April 2025
This month, we returned to Southampton to host another exciting edition of the City Eye Film Network. The evening was filled with engaging discussions and an energising atmosphere as filmmakers and creatives came together to exchange ideas and make meaningful connections. A big thank you to everyone who attended the event! March 2025
This month was hosted at Forest Arts Centre in collaboration with producer Chuckie McEwan & BFI Network South West. Three filmmakers stepped up to pitch their ideas and received invaluable feedback from Chuckie McEwan, City Eye Executive Director Susan Beckett & BFI Network South West Talent Executive Jess Wheeler. February 2025
The return of our popular Speed Networking! Attendees chat to each other in 3 minute sessions before moving on to the next person. Connections were made, ideas sparked and who knows? Maybe the next big project was born right here! January 2025
Attendees kicked off the new year with this special session of the Film Network, marking the start of a year-long celebration of DVMISSION - the longest-running #48hourfilmchallenge in the UK and Europe celebrating its 20th Anniversary. We were joined by Mission Controller Dr. Roy Hanney who told us all we needed to know about this years amazing event! December 2025 A merry time was had by all at the festive December edition of the City Eye Film Network! We all enjoy a relaxed evening of conversation, mince pies, and holiday cheer; the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow filmmakers, share project news and celebrate the season in a warm, informal setting. |
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November 2025
We hosted an exciting 'Filming in the Region' panel as part of Southampton Film Week. The panelists, made up of filmmakers Jim Eaves & Bruce Webb; Events Officer & Film Lead Stella Waite at Southampton City Council; Dr Roy Hanney, Associate Professor Media Practise at Solent University & City Eye Executive Director Susan Beckett, engaged in insightful conversation, sharing their experiences and insights on how to make the most of filming across the Solent region. Dr. Hanney also provided insight into the newly completed 'Solent Film Office & Screen Industries Feasibility Study,' collating the business case for HETV production within the region and the development of a film office. SFW: Shorts Screening & Awards 2024 A bonus edition of the City Eye Film Network. Tied in with SFW: Shorts, our annual short film competition that took place at MAST: Mayflower Studios on Sunday 10th November 2024 . Filmmakers enjoyed pre-screening networking. |
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October 2024
Attendees braved the rain for a relaxed evening of film networking as part of the City Eye Film Network. This is a great opportunity to connect with local creatives and industry professionals in an informal setting, where you can discuss your projects, career development, and explore available resources and support—both at City Eye and from other organisations. September 2024
We were joined by Producer Victoria Haycroft (On A Winter Night). Victoria runs Entertainment Connect, a global organisation dedicated to providing resources and support to people working in entertainment and the arts. She has previously worked in the music industry, motorsport, publishing, non-profit, commissioning at the BBC and is currently an Executive Producer on multiple film projects. August 2024
This months network was a relaxed evening of networking. Attending filmmakers enjoyed a lively few hours of conversation and planning their next projects and there was much excitement around the upcoming SFW: Shorts and other Southampton Film Week activity. July 2024
City Eye Film Network celebrated the start of its third year! We were joined by London based director Caroline Hajny. Her visually distinct style has led to collaborations with brands and artists such as Puma, Vinted, Dua Lipa, Red Bull Racing, Barbour and Amazon. Her latest short film ‘Diary of a Ghost’, a short drama exploring the topics of grief and mental health, is currently on the festival circuit. June 2024
This month we celebrated 2 years of City Eye Film Network. It was great to still be welcoming new people every month, providing filmmakers from across the region the opportunity to connect and forge plans for future filmmaking. The group enjoyed our special 2-year cake. In May we focused on the short form as we celebrated the launch of SFW: Shorts 2024.
SFW: Shorts is Southampton Film Week's own short film competition. As the competition opens this is a great chance to come along and talk about your your short film projects and make plans for submission. We accept films up to 15 minutes in a number of categories with a special rate for regional filmmakers to submit. April was a relaxed evening of casual networking with the chance for attendee's to share their films, projects and works-in-progress. Pictured is Stephen Bond from Autek who shared two short films and a trailer for his 'What's my Anxiety?' project. Available to watch here.
The March edition of the Network took place at Southampton Solent University for a special viewing of their new Virtual Production Studio. An innovative step forward into a whole new strand of filmmaking technique which marries game-engine technology and design with film production. We were joined by Phil Griffiths, Education Lead for Framesync, who explained virtual production techniques and how they are shaping the future of film and high end television.
February's Network fell just before Valentine's Day, so it was time to make an impression at a film networking event that takes inspiration from speed dating.
Our first Film Network of 2024 kicked off with the launch of DVMISSION 48 Hour Film Challenge. Guest speaker Dr. Roy Hanney introduced the 19th edition of the challenge with a participatory game of 'Logline Poker.'
Wow! What a year it's been. It feels like only yesterday that we enjoyed our first festive Network and here we are again, the perfect place for filmmakers from across the Solent region to connect and reflect on 2023. There was no speaker at this event but attendees had plenty of fun and lots of mince pies!
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November's Network took place on Monday 13th at MAST: Mayflower Studios as a prelude to SFW: Shorts Screening & Awards Ceremony. Filmmakers from the region were abound to watch their shortlisted films on the big screen. Congratulations to 'The Deal' filmmakers Edward Palmer & Tim Scott (pictured) who picked up not just one but three awards! The Michael Fuller Award for Best Film, Best Fiction & The Regional Filmmaker Award Sponsored by Solent University.
In October, Zoë Viney, Curator of Film at Wessex Film & Sound Archive in Winchester, spoke to the network about archive film and how it can be accessed for research and utilised for film production purposes. Zoë is also a Postgraduate Research Student in Film at University of Southampton and her work seeks to explore gender and class in the amateur film collection of WFSA between the years of 1920-1950. At last year's Southampton Film Week, Zoë presented 'Gateway to the Archive' alongside a selection of women amateur filmmakers work from across the wider region.
September's meeting was a less formal occasion than usual, giving more time for the region's talented filmmakers to make valuable connections and take their careers to the next level. City Eye highlighted their recent activity and how attendees can benefit, including the upcoming BFI Academy Short Course 2023, as well as Southampton Film Week and its short film competition, SFW: Shorts.
Read more about BFI Academy and how to apply here. August’s Network featured a talk from Vickey Isley and Paul Smith of Boredom Research, a duo of artists who have been collaborating with world-leading science institutions since 2014, creating award-winning artwork, including projects exploring: natural systems, biodiversity, environmental conservation, and human and animal diseases. Their most recent film, Call of the Silent Cell, was entered into SFW: Shorts 2022 and walked away with three awards: Best Artist Film, Regional Filmmaker Award and the Michael Fuller Award for Best Film.
On 11 July, regular network attendee and filmmaker, Evan Preston of Presto Films delivered a talk about his move into professional filmmaking. His experience on the Film Festival circuit, including a recent trip to Cannes, as well as his latest short 'Suong' which premiered in London on June 24 at the Curzon Cinema.
On 13 June, City Eye Film Network kicked off its second year with a screening of short film, 'Frequency' which won Best Film at Solent University's Film & Media awards. This will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A. Associate Professor and Head of the Southampton Film & Television School, Darren Kerr was also present to lead the Q&A and talk about the launch of 2023's SFW: Shorts, as well as its Regional Filmmaker award. On May 9, we welcomed Writer & Director Chris Reading. Chris explored the process of concepting for two of his films. ALIEN: Containment, developed for the 40th Anniversary of the Alien franchise and The Unreason, his next feature, which is currently in post-production. Attendees got to see CAD drawings and concept art, learning just how integral previsualisation is to high-concept filmmaking.
April's session fell just after Easter, and was a lovely and relaxed evening of casual networking and sharing of projects. Great to see lots of new faces, and thanks to everyone for braving the April showers to make it out! In March's fully booked meeting of the Network, we were joined by filmmaker and Network member Johan Nayar, who shared the sizzle for his in-progress documentary The Banjo Boys and provided valuable insight into the filmmaking process. February's Network fell on Valentine's Day, and what better day to make connections with like-minded souls with some Speed Networking! Attendees chatted to each other in 3 minute sessions before moving on to the next person, although some conversations certainly over-ran! We're looking forward to seeing the partnerships and collaborations that come from the matchmaking. The first Network of 2023 took place on 10 January with our best attendance yet - a great omen for the new year! Roy Hanney, Mission Co-ordinator for DV Mission 48 Hour Challenge launched this year's competition, which will take place from 3 to 5 March with the Premiere Night on 11 March. The last meeting of 2022 was a lovely evening of festive cheer, networking and mince pies! And of course, the evening was followed by the fabulous Mettflicks screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas. November was a relaxed and less formal occasion than normal to allow our attendees a chance to catch up and share what they've been working on, in the run up to Southampton Film Week. It was lovely to see everyone chatting away and sharing their projects. In October, we were joined by Dr Roy Hanney, Associate Professor and Course Leader of Media Production at Solent University. After the successful series of Get Networked film industry meetings in the spring of this year, Dr Hanney reported back with findings from the research he has been doing and answered questions on how to push forward a development strategy for film & HETV production and distribution in the Solent region. September's Film Network welcomed writer and director Caroline Sax. Caroline has worked as Script Supervisor on over 40 films with some of the industry's most diverse and celebrated directors and actors. Her short film The Fishmonger's Daughter debuted at The Sundance Film Festival and she has three screenplays out for consideration. August's meeting of the City Eye Film Network was a lovely evening, we were joined by musicians DiElle and Chris Wood as our guest speakers. They told fascinating stories of their work composing for all sorts of films, and their work creating a score for the upcoming documentary Instinctive: An Archer’s Journey. July's event, following the successful re-launch of the City Eye Film Network in June, brought together filmmakers, artists and the curious once again! This included a word from our sponsor and CEO of Camera Crate, Ben Grace, who detailed his recent experience in crafting a 12 minute short film with only 24 minutes of end-of-line film stock available. The re-launched City Eye Film Network got off to a fine start in June with over 35 filmmakers, writers, actors, animators and digital creators joining us to share thoughts, ideas, challenges and success. |
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