Film Festivals

Raindance
This Film Festival is a worldwide, western film festival accepting work from New York, Canada and London, just to name a few countries. This festival runs from the 6th to the 7th of February. This festival was founded in 1991 and becoming a member of the festival will cost anyone interested £50.

Submitting your films to this festival is done through another website called Withoutabox.com were you can fill in an application form and leave a hard copy of your film and a digital press kit.

The only submission limitation is that the work being entered must not have been screened on the internet. Raindance take a wide range of genres of work from comedy to drama and many more.

Some of the awards they offer are

· Best UK Feature
· Best International feature
· Best Debut Feature
· Best Documentary
· Best Micro budget Feature
· Best UK Short
· Best International Short

Encounters
Submissions for this festival open on the 1st of April 2010. And previously ran from the 17th to the 21st of November 2001 in Bristol. This festival take work form comedies, dramas, animations and music videos from 58 different countries showing it is quite an established festival that represents the UK.

Encounters is actually the umbrella title of two of the UKs leading film festivals that have now combined .In 1995 this festival began as Brief Encounters. It was only meant to be a one off event celebrating the centenary of cinema but because of its success it carried on and is still running now as one of the world’s most respected celebration of short film. In 2001 Animated Encounters joined Encounters and became very successful, showcasing the productions, talent, creativity, technology and skills that make animation so popular. These two festivals joined in 2006 with record breaking success.

· Some of the awards this festival award are ...
· International Jury Award
· Best of British Award
· South West Jury Award
· UK Film Council Audience Award
· South West Screen Audience Award
· Online Audience Award
· Film Club Children’s Jury award Animation
· Film Club Teenage Jury award

To subscribe to this festival you need to sign up to the newsletter and create a profile.

Exposures
This is another film festival that is seen as the national and UKs leading student film festival. It runs from the 17th to the 19th of November and accepts a wide range of genre of films such as documentary, animation and drama.

To submit your work to this festival you will first need to read the rules and guidelines and then fill in an entry form on the Exposures website and then send it to the address listed on the site. These are a few of the rules and guidelines that need to be considered before entry.

Rules and Guidelines at a glance

• 
  To be eligible for entry work must have been produced whilst studying at a UK institution between August 2009 and July 2010 (detailed explanations can be found in the exposures 2010 Rules & Guidelines
• 
  Work can be of any genre, theme or type.
• 
  Work must be under 30 minutes long.
• 
  You must fill in one form per artwork submitted.
• 
  Films will not be accepted without a completed entry form.
• 
  Do not send your only copy or original.
• 
  Send your entries on DVD only, and make sure it works before you send it.
• 
  Make sure your work does not infringe any copyright – you must have permission for any music or images used.
• 
  Incomplete or invalid entries will not be returned.
• 
  Don’t forget to sign and date the entry form

http://www.exposuresfestival.co.uk/enter

History of short film

Hollywood and short film

Short film was actually the first type of film created, with Sortie de l'usine being created in 1896. Another example to illustrate this point would be the first British crime drama "Arrest of a pickpocket" directed by Birt Acres in 1895. This film lasted only 50 seconds and included three characters. (http://amazon.imdb.com/title/tt0187702/). These were the first films that people were able to create because of the technical restrictions and the lack of technology. this made these films very experimental and quirky.


However when Hollywood advanced and the creation of the classical narrative creating feature length films came about the short film industry decreased. Hollywood brought along with it genre production making the experimental themes of short film decrease too. The Hollywood studio system was also introduced making film making a lot more expensive and making it a lot harder for short films to be viewed and get publicity as cinema exhibitions required films to be 100 minutes.


As short film could not compete with Hollywood and mainstream cinema it found its way to its audience by becoming a form of art. this created the experimental, Avant Garde,, art house short films. A good example of an Avant Garde film would be Baraka (Ron Fricke, US, 1992—96 mins). Densely packed visual story of the evolution of Earth and humanity, and the manner in which human beings relate to the natural environment. Shot on location in 24 countries. No dialogue, only sounds and images—stream of consciousness. Beauty and grandeur of visuals make this definitely one for the big screen (shot with 70mm cameras). Some disturbing imagery, nudity. See Gianetti 163. Chris Hicks writes, "Taking his 70mm camera to 24 countries, cinematographer Ron Fricke has compiled an answer to Godfrey Reggio's Koyaanisqatsi, on which Fricke was chief cameraman. That film, whose title is a Hopi word for "Life Out of Balance," contrasted the serene natural wonders of America with its hustling, bustling industry, without narration or plot, using only gorgeously photographed, fleeting images set to a driving, mesmerizing Philip Glass score. Fricke's Baraka — the title, an ancient Sufi word, loosely translates as 'The Breath of Life' — is apparently intended to counterbalance Reggio's work, showing how the human race and life itself are tied to the earth." Also considered a documentary. David B. Spalding writes: "Baraka begins and ends with supremely spiritual images and sounds. . . . the film is a glorious tone poem. . . . Baraka is a profound celebration of each culture's, each individuals, personal experience of our universe" (http://www.korova.com/kmr95/kmr5034.htm

Currently a lot has changed in the world of Hollywood and short film production. For example Hollywood no longer follows the studio system. It now looks at film as a low budget, opportunity for experimentation and innovation. Short film is also seen as a safe way to experiment and create original films without losing too much money. Studios have also found short films are good ways to scout undiscovered talent through short film festivals in which all this work is exhibited.


Short film then advanced further, especially in England, becoming British new wave also referred to as free cinema. this meant that these films had an experimental approach to sound, were funded by the BFI experimental film fund and featured working class people at work and in their society. For example in "We are the Lambeth Boys (1958)". This short film was filmed in the "fly on the wall" style and was the first time working class people were shown on T.V not regarding a crime.


There was also a lot of protest within free cinema as they protested to the dominance of the mainstream creating the British free cinema of the 50s which was filmed in documentary style. Most films in free cinema are short films as they are low budget and allow a lot of opportunity to be experimental.

Video activism also has a symbiotic relationship with short film as a lot of little film studios work has been done on the role of short film as an agent of social change. for example Green Peace, Amnesty International commissioned specialist subject short film to make people more aware of a topic or situation they deem important. There is a good example of a pressure group commissioning a short film director to create a short film to publicize their cause.

Short films on TV
in the 1960s to 70s TV did provide some minority viewing of short films scheduled into "filler" and late night slots. In 1999 BBC 2 series 10x10 in association with the BFI showcased short films and in 1991 the BBC launched Video Nation which was populist mass observation on the close up straight to camera. This influenced the video diary, reality TV online in 2001 and this is because video cameras became smaller and cheaper.


Now in the 21st century there are many changes to the way short films are broadcast. For example channel 4 has "Shooting Gallery", BBC has ?The Film Network" and there is also a channel dedicated solely to short films on the Internet which is Movieola (http://www.movieola.ca/). There is also a channel on Skys style and cultures subscription pack that broadcasts short films 24 hours per day. This channel broadcasts many different genres of film targeting 18 to 25 year olds.

"Shorts International has announced that it will launch ShortsTV on the Sky platform from November 26,targeting 18-25 year old viewers who currently watch shorts online.
The channel will show films of all genres, from comedy to thriller, each less than 30 minutes. ShortsTV launched on Numericable's cable systems in France, Belgium and Luxembourg in February 2007."

"Anytime, Sky's push video-on-demand service, and monthly comedy releases on Go!View, the joint venture between BSkyB and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe which allows owners to download and view video via their PSPs." This is a good example of how convergence is changing the distribution of all these short films.

http://www.screendaily.com/shorts-international-to-launch-short-film-channel-shortstv/4041792.article

Short film production companies- Coffee Shorts

Coffee Shorts is a website I found that specialises in advertising and screening independant short films they are given by friends and some they find on the internet. This site has many channels all showing different genres and short films by many aspiring directors. The channels that are available on this site are “Music Video”, “Documentary Film”, “Animated short film”, “Experimental film”. “Comedy shorts” and “Indie film trailers”.
“Coffee Shorts is an independent short film channel showing off exceptional work from some of our friends and discovered from surfing around the web.
We spread the films around a bunch of online channels for people to come across and hopefully spend a little time with, experiencing a world where the guy doesn't always get the girl, evil sometimes overcomes good and things generally don't follow the same weary scripts.
Every now and again we'll add something new and move the playlists around so drop back from time to time, enjoy your stay!

Steve PiperHead of Film” taken from http://www.coffeeshorts.co.uk/about.html

This site features and includes a range of interesting, proffesional standard short films, especially video activism work.

“Today it's time for a trailer to go with the DVD release of the powerful animal rights documentary Your Mommy Kills Animals. Commissioned to take a critical look at Peta the filmmakers were ultimately won over to the cause, producing a film fair in it's representation and warning of the extremes of either side of the argument. Widely praised for debunking the FBI's concern that Peta is more dangerous than Al Quaeda the film features a raft of celebrities (Jessica Biel, Katherine Heigl, Kaley Cuoco, Joss Stone and James Cromwell) as well as leaders of the animals movement such as Josh Harper and Kevin Kjonaas. A critically acclaimed independent film with 91% at Rotten Tomatoes it continues to cause controversy, sparking a courtroom battle when the political lobbyist funders finally saw it and the film getting pulled from DVD stores after pressure on major retailers from food industry lobbyists; you can still get a copy direct from distributors Halo-8 and check out the latest work from Curt Johnson's Indie Genius Productions on their Myspace.”

http://coffeeshorts.blogspot.com/2009/11/your-mommy-kills-animals-documentary.html

Short Film Funding by UK Film Council

Short Films are funded in many ways as aspiring directors who may not have the right financial resources to produce these films usually create them. Therefore these films have to be funded by bigger, established film organisations such as the UK Film Council. http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/shortfilms.

This organisation has many funding schemes such as the Short Films Completion Fund 2009/10, the Digital Shorts, fund, and the Cinema Extreme short film programme,

Bibliography

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrKnhOJ-R80
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpjHSiQLPmA&NR=1
3. http://ajiminnicoup.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/strangers-short-film/
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_filmhttp:/
5. /www.youtube.com/watch?v=4meeZifCVro
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-cFHeoXAw8
7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYIxBRA5qjA&feature=related
8. http://allafrica.com/stories/200808040575.html
9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHZiGHhgRtY
10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2PwHAotOoc
11. http://www.mtv.com/search/video/?q=Anthony%20Mandler
12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testify_(Common_song)
13. http://coffeeshorts.blogspot.com/2009/11/your-mommy-kills-animals-documentary.html
14. http://www.coffeeshorts.co.uk/about.html
15. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1142235/awards
16. http://fest.sfjff.org/film/biography?id=3921&last=Tadmor&first=Erez&role=Director
17. http://amazon.imdb.com/title/tt0187702/
18. http://www.screendaily.com/shorts-international-to-launch-short-film-channel-shortstv/4041792.article
19. http://www.silverfilms.co.uk/about

Testify by Common (9 minute short film)

• Directed by Anthony Mandler http://www.mtv.com/search/video/?q=Anthony%20Mandler
• 8:51 minutes
• An example of a music video which can be seen as a short film
• Genre: Hip Hop drama
• Codes and conventions: Exaggerated sounds eg) gun shots, court hammer banging, eerie music,

"'Testify' [...] features an intricate layering of vocals which provide such an hypnotic backdrop that you almost forget to listen to Common's compelling storytelling."[1] The song's story is about a woman who manipulates a judge and jury to find her partner guilty of a crime she committed. After the case is settled, she starts laughing and reveals that she is the criminal. Sean Malcolm of AllHipHop.com considers Common to have "paint[ed] pictures of extravagant court trials" on "Testify."[2] The song was a critical hit garnering a nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 48th Grammy Awards.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testify_(Common_song)

Why women count

• An example of a short film that is made as a documentary type video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHZiGHhgRtY

Zimbabwean Short Films

Harare — PATSIMEREDU Edutainment - in conjunction with Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe - recently launched a short film on domestic violence.
The 30-minute production titled Mudiwa was launched at a hotel in the capital at a ceremony attended by women's organisations and the media.
Produced by former Waiters actor Jasen Mphepho, the short film chronicles the life of Sarudzai (Caroline Mashingaidze) who suffers emotional and physical abuse at the hands of her husband, Jephta (Nash Mphepho) and her in-laws because of alleged infertility.
Mphepho said Mudiwa is a film meant to address the growing problems of domestic violence within society despite provisions made available by the domestic violence law.
"We believe that a picture is worth a thousand words and we hope Mudiwa will go a long way in helping both men and women to desist from domestic violence," said Mphepho.
The film highlights how women can be their own oppressors of the family and community as shown by the character played by Sitshengisiwe Siziba, who as Jephta's aunt, encourages him to beat his wife Sarudzai to death.
It also exposes how due to socialisation, women advise each other to endure domestic violence for the sake of safeguarding their marriages and preserve their dignity.
Although men are depicted as the villains, Jephta's brother (George Tanjani) is sympathetic to Sarudzai's plight and unsuccessfully tries to stop his brother from abusing her.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200808040575.html
Harare — A ZIMBABWEAN short film Pamvura (At The Water) has been nominated for the Best Short Film awards at the 2007 Los Angeles Pan-African Film Festival (PAFF) to be held from February 8 to 19 in the United States.
The film was directed by the Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe Production Skills Workshop

"Offside" short film

• Directed by Guy Nattiv and Erez Tadmor
• Genre: drama
• 5:46 minutes
• Focuses on racial divide in a military camp
• No dialogue makes audience focus more on characters facial expressions, body language and atmosphere created
• Codes and conventions: exaggerated sounds eg) radio, birds singing, guns clicking, gun shots, exaggerated silence creating tense, suspicious, engaging audience
• Narrative told through action of film correlating with the football match on the radio creating an intriguing original way to portray the plot to the audience
• 4 characters lets the audience focus more on the plot and action which is dragged out through the silences and breaks in the radio

"Replay" short film

• Created by Anthony Voisin, Zakaria Boumedlane etc...
• Animated French short film
• 8:45 minutes
• Genre: Drama
• Codes and conventions: exaggerated loud sons eg) beeping, deep breathing, banging doors, running feet, wind blowing,
• Close ups of important objects eg) satchel. tape recorder etc ...
• Slow, dreary, sympathetic music setting sad, tense atmosphere
• Animation and subtitles engage audience and create more interest
• Limited characters allow audience to focus more on the action and narrative of the film
• Characters and narrative is not just simply told to audience rather audience watch and come up with their own perception of the narrative message

"Lovefield" short film

• 5:29 minutes
• Director: Mathieu Ratthe
• Genre: drama
• Lack of dialogue interests audience and allows them to concentrate on the drama and action
• Codes and conventions: dramatic music and sfxs eg) phone beeping, woman screaming, knife being stabbed into ground
• Narrative is drawn out and the message at the end of the plot can not easily be perceived through the film creating suspense, tension and interest
• Crow used as a character depicting the main male character as the bad guy
• Symbols such as tattoo, music becoming more dramatic, man running away portray the male character as bad

History of short film

Short film is a technical description originally coined in the North American film industry in the early period of cinema. The description is now used almost interchangeably with short subject. Either term is often abbreviated to short (as a noun, e.g., "a short").
Although the North American definition generally refers to films between 20 and 40 minutes, the definition refers to much shorter films in Europe, Latin America and Australasia. In New Zealand, for instance, the description can be used to describe any film that has duration longer than one minute and shorter than 15 minutes. The North American definition also tends to focus much more on character whereas the European and Australasian forms tend to depend much more on visual drama and plot twists. In this way, the North American form can be understood to be a derivation of the feature film form, usually acting as a platform for aspirant Hollywood directors. Elsewhere, short films tend to work as showcases for cinematographers and commercial directors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_film

"Strangers" short film

• Directed, written and produced by Erez Tadmor and Guy Nattiv
• Cinematographer: Rami Agami
• Genre: Drama, social realism
• Codes and conventions: Dramatic sfxs and music eg) whispers, beating drums, foreign music establishing foreign setting, train screeching etc ...
• This film explores racial issues conveyed through symbols such as tattoos, newspaper text, chain with a Jewish symbol, Jewish ringtone.
• No dialogue makes it more interesting and captivating to the audience as it allows the audience to concentrate more on the action to understand the narrative
• No dialogue also makes the acting more convincing, realistic and dramatic
• Target audience is a male audience from 21 – 35 as the characters featured are of this age rage and gender. Also the views and situations explored in this film are more understood and relatable to this mature audience.
• “This is a short film, Strangers (2004), about the racial divide between Arabs and Jews and what brings them together. Like in the short film, I look forward to a new day when we all can transcend from the unfortunate divide to face a common enemy.” http://ajiminnicoup.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/strangers-short-film/

"Black Button" short film

• Director: Lucas Crandles
• Written by Lucas Crandles and Hayden Grubb
• D.O.P: Brian Walsh
• This short film is a dramatic thriller genre.
• Codes and conventions of this sf are dramatic, eerie sound effects and music creating tense atmosphere
• Too much dialogue bores the audience as it simply tells the narrative and does not allow audience to work to understand narrative.
• End of the film is twisted and unexpected with a message and ideology of morality and religion which is conveyed through the dialogue and the plain white setting.
• Acting is very dramatic and dialogue just makes the acting seem cheesy and over the top.
• Film is targeted to an older audience as characters and situations concerned and explored are best understood and relatable to an older audience.