Media Trust Films: Women, girls and trauma

In partnership with The Crucible Foundation, Media Trust Films are launching a new initiative to create free short films focusing on the theme of women, girls, and trauma.

We are looking for 10 charities to take part, featuring a range of charities who work across different aspects of trauma including domestic violence, harassment, rape and trafficking, across the UK. 

Successful charities will be matched with a skilled volunteer filmmaker, who they will work closely with throughout the process. The films come at no cost to the charities. This is an excellent opportunity for organisations to share their stories and reach new audiences through the power of film. 

What is the Media Trust Crucible Film Scheme? 

The programme aims to support charities in raising awareness of their work and reaching a broader audience. This year’s focus on women, girls, and trauma brings attention to important issues while celebrating the critical work being done by these organisations. Volunteer filmmakers will collaborate with selected charities to produce high-quality films that reflect their unique missions. Charities will also receive training on filmmaking, how to reach your audience and optimising social media skills for sharing the finished film. 

Who should apply?  

• Charities must advocate for or support women and girls who have faced trauma.
• Charities should have staff, or a project lead available to assist with the film-making project, including providing ideas for locations, securing talent, and ensuring smooth collaboration.
• Applicants should propose how the film will be used, whether for advocacy, fundraising, awareness building, or campaign support.
• Selected charities must attend pre-filming workshops, including sessions on filmmaking, audience outreach, and social media optimisation. 

Charities must be able to engage in the film-making process, offering input and feedback during filming and editing. 

Key dates and information 

• Applications open: Monday 7 April 2025
• Q&A session for charities: Friday 25 April 2025 (1-2PM)
• Applications close: Friday 2 May 2025 

The entire process, from application to the delivery of the finished films, will take approximately nine months. This includes briefing, filmmaker pairing, filming, and post-production.  

Successful charities will need to engage regularly with their executive producer and volunteer filmmaker through scheduled monthly Zoom meetings and additional phone and email discussions. Participation in three mandatory online training workshops will also be required. 

Join our Q&A webinar on Friday 25 April to meet the Media Trust Films team and get answers to any questions you may have about the scheme or the application process.

How to apply 

Charities can apply via the online application form.  

Below is a short film, “50 Years”, produced by Media Trust Films in 2024. The film was created in collaboration with volunteer filmmakers from Tinker Taylor Productions to celebrate Staffordshire Women’s Aid’s 50th Anniversary and honour their remarkable legacy.