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.
Powering a more inclusive future for UK cinema. This dedicated residency provides women and marginalised gendered animators with the space, support, and resources to scale their ideas for animated features from concept to screen.
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 participation fee (20 days @£150 per day) 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 it is anticipated that participants will have a developed feature treatment or pitch deck, have at least 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 15th – 22nd 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 15th – 22nd September 2026
Who will you be working with?
Through both our Sea Change Festival and Young Industry programme, Screen Argyll attract 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 (Industry Practitioners).
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.
Sea Change Animated Women is delivered by Screen Argyll supported by the BFI National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund, awarding National Lottery Good Cause funding.
Who can apply
UK-resident women and marginalised gendered animators developing their own animated feature project can apply. Applicants must be over 18, not in full-time education when the programme starts, and working on a project at an early-to-mid development stage and have professional experience in short form animation.
Who is considered ‘early career’
The programme is designed for early-career and emerging creatives developing their first animated feature. This may include people moving into feature-length storytelling from short film, television, animation series, or other screen work.
What costs are covered for participants
Participants will receive a participation fee for 20 days at £150 per day. Accommodation and travel support for the residential lab are also provided, along with an industry pass for MOVE Summit and Glasgow Film Festival in 2027.
When do you need to be available
Participants need to be available for online introduction and preparation workshops in early September 2026, the seven-day residential lab on Tiree from 15th–22nd September 2026, monthly progress meet-ups and mentoring from October to February 2027, the project showcase at MOVE Summit in February 2027, and submission of draft scripts and treatments in March 2027.
What previous experience is required
Applicants are expected to have made a short-form, or longer, animation before. The programme is aimed at creatives with a strong concept and visual world already established for their animated feature project.
When is the deadline and when will I hear the outcome
Applications close on 10 August 2026. Selected projects will be notified by 17 August 2026.
Who will assess my application
Applications will be assessed by a panel of three industry experts
What happens if my application is successful
Applicants will take part in a seven-month residency including online group sessions, one-to-one mentoring, peer review, script workshops, development exercises, and a seven-day residential lab on Tiree. They will also work towards presenting their project at MOVE Summit in February 2027.
When will I receive payment of the participation fee
Payment can be invoice monthly by participants
What is required at the end of the programme
By the end of the residency, participants are expected to have a developed feature treatment or pitch deck, at least a key section of their script mapped out, a one-minute animatic trailer, and a pitch presentation ready for MOVE Summit. Draft scripts and treatments are due in March 2027.