The £1,000 bursary in honour of Phoebe Frances Brown is now back for its second year!
Honouring Phoebe Frances Brown
Last year the award was in partnership with Hampstead Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse, it attracted 403 entries with Olivia Mace winning the award after five writers were shortlisted.
It was set up in honour of Phoebe Frances Brown, actor and writer, who died at the age of 29 due to an incurable brain tumour. Before she passed away, she performed her one-woman show called, ‘The Glad Game’.
Performed at her hometown in Nottingham, it came to huge critical acclaim and was described as, “a mesmerising portrait of hope in the face of horror”.
I wanted to write and perform a play about life being stranger than fiction … There’s still things to be glad about.
The play was written while she was in the hospital, as a way to cope and make sense of it all. She later passed away in her home surrounded by family and her partner Jake.
Brown’s talent transcended the stage, extending to radio and screen. Her appearances in BBC productions, such as “Home Front” and “The Whisperer in Darkness,” demonstrated her versatility as an actor. She also ventured into filmmaking, co-creating the comedy short “Hung Out to Dry” with her partner, Jake Kelsall.
Because of her positivity and influence in the theatre space, the venues decided to honour Brown’s memory with an award that would celebrate and support brilliant women like Phoebe! It is also a way to support up-and-coming filmmakers and writers.
Winners Last Year
The Mister Tibbs film Fund in honour of Phoebe Brown last year was given to Sychelle Kristina Yanda, £1000 was given to support the film and production of Koko which means Grandma in Lingala (The Congolonese Dialect).
Mister Tibbs hosted two film nights in London and Manchester to which Koko was screened live to an audience. The group project was created and supported by students and staff alike from Bourmouth University and came out with positive reviews!
This Year’s Competition!
This year anyone looking to get their film supported would submit at least a 500 word statement, which reflects their filmmaking experience, what they are aiming for in their career, and how this grant could help them in those goals.
Their work sample should also be included, which could quite literally be anything, it could be an unmade script, a sketch, a short film, anything that gives a sense of voice and tone. Deadline for submission is on Friday, May 31st so submit them HERE!
This is a huge opportunity for filmmakers starting out so be sure to submit your applications! For anyone catch some inspiration on funny things then Big Belly Comedy Club‘s got you covered! With constant comedy shows playing 7 nights a week so come on in!
