Brighton Screendance Festival 2026: Homegrown Call Out

South East Dance is delighted to present the third edition of Brighton Screendance Festival, our annual celebration of dance on screen, in partnership with CINECITY. Taking place on 14 November 2026, this day-long celebration explores bold, curious meeting points between movement, choreography, and the moving image.

As part of this year’s programme, we’re once again presenting Homegrown – a platform dedicated to showcasing short dance films by makers based in the South East of England. Working with our Community Steering Group, we’ll co-curate a screening of 8- 12 selected films across this celebratory event, which includes networking drinks, post show

Key info

Your film must be:

• A completed dance film (not a work-in-progress)
• No longer than 7 minutes in duration
• Created by an artist or collective based in the South East of England (excluding London, see region definition below

We particularly welcome submissions from artists who are underrepresented in the cultural sector and work that foregrounds inclusive and diverse perspectives.

What do we understand as dance film/screendance?

Rather than filming a live performance with a static camera, dance film is made specifically for the screen, with the camera considered as part of the creative process from the very beginning. The camera becomes another choreographic tool, offering perspectives and possibilities that aren’t available in a live setting.

Through camera movement, framing, close-ups, editing and other cinematic techniques, dance film can draw attention to details, relationships and moments that might otherwise go unnoticed and gives audiences a different way of experiencing movement.

If selected, you will receive:

• A screening of your work as part of Brighton Screendance Festival 2026
• A £25 honorarium
• 5 complimentary tickets to the screening
• A Brighton Screendance Festival laurel for your film credits

Films will be shown cinema-style on our large projection screen. We can also present your film in a different format if you prefer - let us know in your application.

In the past, Hatch has been a 'family friendly', screening, however we are open to all works, and changing this based on the submissions we receive. Please do let us know when you apply if there are any themes, content, language that may require a disclaimer or age rating.

*South East Region
This callout is for artists / collectives based in the *South East region.

For the purposes of this call out this includes: Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Kent, Medway, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Reading, Slough, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor & Maidenhead, Wokingham

How to apply:

Please fill out this quick and simple form. Homegrown Application Form 2026 – Fill in form

Please provide a link to your film as part of this form. 

An unlisted Youtube link or Vimeo is preferred. Please make sure that we have permissions to view your film otherwise we may not be able to consider your application. 

Please also send a Promotional image  to programming@southeastdance.org.uk that you  would be happy to have on the website with relevant credits would like this image to be credited. 

If you can’t access the form, are having issues sending your film or if you have any questions, drop a message to programming@southeastdance.org.uk

We welcome applications via alternative formats. Please get in touch with programming to discuss this if you need.

Deadline for submissions: Monday, 28 September, 9am, 2026

We aim to provide you with an outcome on the week commencing the 12 October, 2026.

Image credit: For Us by Pearl Makayi, from Homegrown 2025.