E.D.E.N Film Productions celebrates after receiving funding from the National Lottery to run a free filmmaking course for the LGBTQ+ community.
Local based award-winning social enterprise, E.D.E.N Film Productions is today celebrating after being awarded National Lottery funding to support its work with the LGBTQ+ community. The group, based in Sheffield, will use the cash to run a free filmmaking course, E.D.E.N Shorts 2020, for the LGBTQ+ community where a short film raising awareness on important areas decided by the LGBTQ+ community will be produced.
E.D.E.N Film Productions was established in 2013 and since then has been actively involved with the LGBTQ+ community running filmmaking workshops, events, screenings and Transforming Cinema film festival. E.D.E.N Shorts 2020 will build on previous work and projects, including 2016’s E.D.E.N Shorts project where four short films were produced by the LGBTQ+ community. The films created were screened at film festivals around the world including BFI Flare, SQIFF and Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival.
The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will see a new free filmmaking course for the LGBTQ+ community. E.D.E.N’s projects have been incredibly important and provided safe spaces and a way for members of the community to raise awareness of important issues through the power of film.
E.D.E.N Shorts 2020 launches on 11 February 2020 at Union St, 18-20 Union Street, Sheffield, S1 2JP. It will involve five two-hour workshops with award-winning filmmaker Brett Chapman, teaching participants filmmaking skills. Alongside, 20-hours of filming and editing with Brett Chapman and E.D.E.N Film Productions’ founder Claire Watkinson. Places are limited and you can sign up online at: https://forms.gle/dE7uuEU2QSPAkPdr8
Claire Watkinson, founder of E.D.E.N Film Productions says: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to run a free filmmaking course for members of the LGBTQ+ community in Sheffield. This is important because the project provides a safe space and opportunity to develop filmmaking skills alongside networking with other members of the community and raise awareness of important topics. Since founding E.D.E.N in 2013 I have found our work to be incredibly important with many previous participants commenting on how taking part in our projects have helped them with their career and/or confidence. Receiving this funding allows us to continue to build on our existing work and provide a space for members of the LGBTQ+ community to thrive and develop life-long skills and friendships.”
