Write for Us
Submissions are now open for Film Capsule’s second issue – 1995!
Please review the following guidelines carefully before submitting your work.
Film Capsule Background
Film Capsule is a community-led celebration of film through time. A love letter to cinema, it seeks to reflect on and cherish the films that have made a difference. It is an opportunity to rediscover timeless classics and to introduce others to underrated gems within the bounds of one simple framework: one year per edition (in no particular order!).
What We Are Looking For
Reviews, personal essays, critical essays, love letters, comic strips, drawings, text exchanges between two characters, maps representing the film (or your feelings towards it). Get creative!
Submission Process
To make sure that a film is not written about/illustrated multiple times, all pieces must be pre-convened with the what about birdy team (DM on Instagram @whataboutbirdy or whataboutbirdy@gmail.com). Once it has been greenlit, you can create and submit your piece.
Deadline
The deadline for submissions is 19th November at 23:59 GMT. Make sure you review the contributor agreement before submitting.
Agreed on a film with the team? Submit your final piece here.
Films released in 1995 include…
Check out this list for more ideas!
FAQS
I am an artist and want to illustrate for Film Capsule. What do I do?
There are two options for artists – if you want to submit a standalone piece, please contact what about birdy via Instagram or email (again, to make sure the film has not already been covered). The other option is to wait until after the writers’ deadline, after which you will be able to choose which article you want to illustrate. Get in touch with us if this is of interest!
I have an idea but I’m not sure if fits with the guidelines. What do I do?
Email or DM the what about birdy team, they will always be happy to help. Alternatively, check out our first edition here to get an idea of what others have been writing about!
I’m not sure about the release date of the film I want to write about.
For those films that overlap years in festival runs and general releases, we count the first time the film was screened anywhere as the year of its release, e.g. if a film was screened at Cannes Film Festival in 1994 but released in the UK in 1995, it is classed as 1994.
I have an essay that would work perfectly for this but it’s already been published. Can I send it to you?
Unfortunately, we do not accept previously published material (including blogs or personal websites).
Will you edit my work?
We will look over all work for typos and grammar, and may make some alterations. We will however make sure the integrity and substance of the work is preserved. Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions.
Do you pay contributors?
We are not able to pay contributors at this time, but are working on it. All contributors do however get a 50% discount on their copies!
Can my friend get involved?
Anyone can get involved! We just ask for original and creative outlooks on film. You are also welcome to submit a piece as a duo.
I’ve generated an image using AI/used AI to help me write my article. Will you publish it?
Unfortunately, we operate a strict no AI policy at Film Capsule, so will under no circumstances publish any written or visual work that has been partly or fully created by AI.
I want to write about a film, but it’s not mainstream. Can I?
As long as the film was released in the year of the edition, you can write about it. The more films, the better!
I’m not based in the UK. Can I still submit?
Yes, anyone is welcome to submit. Please be advised however that we will not be able to pay for international shipping – contact us for more information!