Screen Argyll are delighted to announce a new residency 
Sea Change Animated Women supporting six individual creatives from across the UK to develop animated feature film projects.

The residency programme takes place across 7 months hosted through a mix of on-line group and one-to-one mentoring sessions enhanced by a core seven-day residential development lab embedded alongside the annual Sea Change Film Festival in Tiree. The programme will culminate in a project showcase at the 2027 Move Summit.

Who is it for?

This residency is for UK-resident women and marginalised gendered animators working on their own animated feature project, the focus will be on projects at the early-to-mid development stage. The programme is specifically designed for early-career and emerging creatives who are developing their first animated feature (typically where a strong concept and visual world have been established) and are transitioning from short film, television, animation series, or other screen work into feature-length storytelling. 

What will the residency look like?

Supported by a professional team, participants will explore feature structure, visual narrative, and realistic finance pathways taking part in script workshops, peer review sessions, mentoring and development exercises tailored to their feature idea. Each person will receive a stipend (20 days) covering their time on the 7-day lab and online sessions, plus accommodation, and travel support, they will also be offered an industry pass for both MOVE summit and Glasgow Film Festival in 2027. By the end of the residency participants will have a developed feature treatment, a key section of their script mapped out, a 1-minute animatic trailer and a pitch presentation ready for MOVE summit. The programme emphasis will also be on nurturing a network of peers, contacts and support to carry forward beyond the residency.

Programme Overview

  • August 10th 2026 – Applications Close, selected projects will be notified by 17th
  • Early September – 2 half day on-line introduction & preparation workshops 
  • September 14th – 20th 7-day residential lab on the Isle of Tiree
  • On-going peer-to-peer support and network development
  • October – February 2027 – monthly progress meet-ups and one-to-one work with mentors for each project
  • February 2027 – Project showcase at MOVE summit Edinburgh
  • March 2027 – Submission of scripts and treatments

Note: Some of the sessions take place on-line, but it is expected that all participants will travel to Tiree for the in-person lab and Sea Change Festival 14th – 20th September 2026

Who will you be working with?

Through both our Sea Change Festival and BFI Animation Academy programme Screen Argyll enjoys a wide-ranging network of supportive professionals from the animation industry, many of whom will be contributing to or connecting with this programme. Industry contributors supporting the in-person lab will include Anna Zaluczkowska (Script Specialist, Northern Film School), Camilla Deakin (Lupus Films), Paula Povida Urrutia (Animation Scotland), Rachel Bevan Baker, Selina Wagner and Vicki Howarth (Directors). 

How to apply: 

We welcome applications from UK-resident women and marginalised gendered animators working on their own animated feature projects. Applicants must be over 18 and not in full-time education when the programme starts and will be expected to have made a short-form (or longer) animation before.

The deadline for applications is 10th of August 2026, we are asking you to submit:

A one-page story outline.

Character designs (ideally including turn-arounds and a page of poses)

Designs for three environments/worlds in which the story is set.

A CV and evidence of previous work.

A short statement outlining the project’s development needs and ambitions.

If you have any questions or need assistance with your application – please contact Nina Pope nina@screenargyll.co.uk with the subject Sea Change Animated Women Application.