Competitions Worth Entering
From 4docs
Competitions can be a great way of giving yourself a deadline to finish your short film and if you do well they can be a great launch pad and profile raiser.
Here are some good ones - feel free to add more that you know about.
Straight 8
Straight 8 sets you the challenge of making a film on one roll of super 8, shot and edited in camera. You enter your film cartridge and a soundtrack and Straight 8 develop it. The first time you see your film could be with an audience at Cannes Film Festival.
It all started in 1999 when a bunch of people were invited to make a short turnaround no budget three minute film on a single cartridge of super 8 without editing but with a cinema audience guaranteed.
25 people: directors, producers, runners, d.p.'s, editors, writers, actors, a d.j., a cinema manager and various others braved the challenge. It was bold and it was loose. There was no expectation. Then it grew and great things have happened including the films becoming adipex a lot more polished and clever, but the experimental spirit is still very much part of the DNA.
They don't have many docs enter, but there are no restrictions on this and actually they would like to see more docs in the mix. It is quite expensive to enter, about £80. But this includes your super 8 cartridge and development - and is a cheap investment if you can say "my film is opening at Cannes!"
Sign up to Straight 8's mailing list.
Virgin Media Shorts
Virgin Media Shorts open to to filmmakers of all ages and backgrounds from across the UK. Any genre short film (maximum of two and a half minutes long) can be entered with a chance to:
- Win £30,000 to make next short film
- Be shown on Virgin 1
- Be shown in cinemas
- Be seen by a prestigious judging panel from the British film industry
Watch some past winning films here
Babelgum Online Film Festival
Babelgum A free, revolutionary Internet and Mobile TV platform supported by advertising, Babelgum combines the full-screen video quality of traditional television with the interactive capabilities of the Internet. They have an annual short film competition, with a documentary category weight loss supplements, with cash prizes judged by the likes of Spike Lee. This year the winners were announced at Tribeca Film Festival