By Steve Conway – 04/06/2025 – Filmmaker
Inside Cine Circle’s Anthology Films: A New Path for Indie Filmmakers
On 19 May 2025, I had a great conversation with ZB Siwek, founder and CEO of Cine Circle, about how the world of independent filmmaking—and how Cine Circle is helping filmmakers get their work seen (video below).
Cine Circle’s well known for its events and courses that give filmmakers practical skills and connections. I’ve hosted stands at some of their events myself, as well as attended them, so I know firsthand how valuable their community is. But the main focus of our chat was their new project around short film distribution. By bringing together curated short films into anthology films, Cine Circle is opening up a fresh way for filmmakers to get their work out there—reaching new audiences and creating opportunities that might not have been available before.
“If you are not thinking about the financial aspect, your making this film as a hobby”. – ZB Siwek
ZB also shared his personal journey, explaining why he chose to step back from making his own films to focus on creating platforms and chances for other filmmakers. It’s an interesting perspective that suggests sometimes stepping aside from the camera can have a bigger impact than you’d expect.
We also talked about why some films manage to find commercial success while others don’t, with ZB offering thoughtful insights on balancing artistic vision with the practical side of filmmaking. It’s a good reminder that filmmaking isn’t just about creativity—it’s also about knowing how to navigate the business side, and much, much more.
“If you know how to sell a film profitably…you will very easily be able to fund films”. – ZB Siwek
If you’re into indie filmmaking or curious about what’s next for short film distribution, this is definitely worth a watch.
Learn more about Cine Circle’s new approach to short film distribution: https://www.cinecircle.co.uk/short-film-distribution
Do I Need a Professional-Grade Cinema Camera to Make a Film?
Like most dedicated filmmakers, I shared similar equipment concerns when I set out to create my first feature-length film. This topic is a common point of discussion among fellow creators. Dive deeper into equipment considerations by downloading my free, concise 4-page PDF guide, available here.
Steve Conway Films 