Eligibility
To apply for Clay Films you must be a Global Majority artist of African and Caribbean heritage over 18 years of age, working with the mediums of clay and film. There is no cost to apply.
Submission criteria
Your short film may be of any genre, but must meet the following criteria:
- Maximum of 15 minutes in length
- Completed or re-edited in the last 5 years
- Original work of the submitting artist
- The submitting artist must have copyright to the film and permission to use any soundtrack/music featured
- By submitting the film, the artist warrants that the film is original and does not infringe on any copyrights or rights of any person
- The film must be suitable for general viewing in a public space
- Resolution of 1080p or higher
- Any spoken language must be accompanied by English subtitles
Selected artist fee
Each of the ten exhibitors selected for Clay Films will receive a £350 presentation fee payment. Clay Films exhibitors will benefit from a national PR and marketing campaign.
Expectations for selected artists
Selected artists are responsible for sending the final high-resolution version of their film for screening and all exhibition-related copy for BCB 2025 by 31 July.
BCB will process a payment of £350 (GBP) value for all selected artists.
BCB is not responsible for international banking transaction fees and therefore artists based outside of the UK might receive less than £350 (GBP) value once banking fees are applied.
Clay Films selection criteria
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel that includes Global Majority sector experts. The panel will select ten short films that will be shown at BCB 2025, within a designated exhibition space created for screening the Clay Films programme.
The selection panel will consider the following criteria:
- High quality and ambition of the submitted work
- Visual impact and cinematography
- Storytelling
Key dates for Clay Films 2025
| 15 May | Application window opens |
| 24 June | Deadline for submissions |
| By 25 July | Selection panel meet and candidates informed |
| 31 July | Deadline for sending the final high-resolution version of their film for screening and all exhibition-related copy |
| 6 September | Biennial opens to the public |
| 19 October | Biennial closes to the public |
Access Support
Access support is available to individuals who feel they face barriers in making an application. A BCB team member is available to help with your application or to offer advice in advance of your application.
Any advice we give on applying is for the artists and film eligibility. It will have no bearing on its assessment during the selection panel. The office hours of BCB staff are 9am to 5pm British Summer Time. Due to the high volume of applications closer to the deadline there will be limited capacity for assistance after 18 June 2025.
If you have any questions about eligibility or access support, please contact apply@britishceramicsbiennial.com.
