In the run up to the 5th year of Underwire, we’ve been finding out what happened next for filmmakers who screened at the festival. This week, we caught up with Steph Wessell to see how Underwire boosted her career and what she’s doing now.

Helen Lloyd as Gerald’s Best Client

Two years on from being nominated for Best Scriptwriter at Underwire 2012, how did that recognition benefit you? What opportunities arose from showcasing at the festival? What have you been up to since?

The nomination of Gerald’s Best Client benefitted me in loads of ways. I could now say that I was nominated in a best screenwriter festival category and that made people keener to see my work. I felt confident enough to screen the film at a local film networking night called Cineme here in Bristol, and it was chosen as one of their favourite films of the year and shown at an Encounters Fringe event. This was yet more validation: I went on to write and direct some storylines for an exciting collaborative feature film project in Bristol called ‘One’, with the Reel People Films Collective. I also co-wrote a script for gifted director Jamie Sampson: ‘Conversations With Strangers’ was nominated in the 2013 IMDb Script to Screen Award and is soon to be shown at the Worcestershire Film Festival. I wrote and directed another short, and various other scripts are sitting in my bottom drawer, waiting to be dusted off and filmed. The Underwire screening also benefited me because while I was at the festival I attended a panel about Women in Film and Television’s mentoring scheme… I kept it in mind, applied, and was offered a place on the 2014 scheme earlier this year. The scheme has been wonderful and valuable in so many ways - networking, training, confidence… and so much support.

What are you currently working on?

What was your experience of screening at Underwire?

I loved it. It felt like I was being validated as a writer and filmmaker, and that’s very valuable in an industry where you can often struggle to believe in yourself (I’d had time out to raise a family). The atmosphere was great, and it was good meeting other nominees in all of the categories. Everyone was sparkly-eyed and enthusiastic about each other’s work - it was a real confidence boost.

How important has screening at festivals been for you?

It hasn’t been so important recently, but I really should do more films and get them out there! The Underwire screening was a catalyst for so much, it’d be good to get that buzz of a festival screening again and see where it leads.

Do you have any advice for craftswomen currently submitting their work to film festivals?

Just do it. I didn’t have much confidence in my work back then, but the Underwire nomination changed my mind and helped me believe in my own work. Submitting to festivals can be a faff (not so much Underwire, but some of the others), however the industry needs women to make their voices heard with characters you don’t normally see on screen. You’ll often get rejected, but remember that selection is subjective so don’t let it get you down.

Would you like to see more support and celebration of craftswomen in the film industry?

I think organisations like Underwire, WFTV and Bird’s Eye View do a great job, but I’m sometimes disappointed to see only a few men at these gatherings. The more women who get out there and impress, the more general audiences will be attracted to these great festivals and showcases, and talented women will be more recognised. I think it’s getting better, because there really is some amazing work out there.

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Underwire Alumnae Reunion
On Saturday 15th November we’re holding a very special reunion of Underwire Alumnae. If you’d like to come along to meet some really talented women, hear what they’re working on and pick their brains about filmmaking, please RSVP here!