Wednesday, March 19, 2003

Talking Pictures

Hull Film - call for entries

Calling all filmmakers - Hull Film is now accepting entries for the 3rd Hull International Short Film Festival - The Mark of the Particular, which this year runs from 15-19th October.

All films submitted should be in VHS format and sent to the Hull Film
Office, Danish Buildings, 44-46 High Street, Hull, HU1 1PS. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Hull Film website - wwww.hullfilm.co.uk
- or, applicants can obtain forms directly from the Hull Film
office. Please call 01482 381512.

Festival Director Catherine Litchfield says, 'We are looking for short films from all filmmakers of any age or background. The festival is both dynamic and diverse and we like to see a wide range of thoughts and ideas expressed in the short form'.

Last year's festival was a five-day extravaganza that showcased around 180 of the best short films from around the globe, comprising 26 screenings, including premieres; guest speakers, our industry programme Shortsighted, discussion forums with audience and filmmakers, competitions, parties and give-away cameras and dinners for two.

Hull Film was established September 2000. Its conception was due to a successful screening of short films from Channel 4's Shooting Gallery
earlier in the year. The outcome of this event saw the development of a
pilot project and a three-day taster weekend screening short films was held October 2000. The event attracted an audience of 405. Organisers felt the success of the pilot project indicated a strong potential audience for short films, and sufficient to develop the path to establish an annual international short film festival in Hull. To ensure the success, continual growth, improvement of the festival, and to further utilise the role of short film, a yearly programme of activity was initiated. This continues to be developed. Thus far, the yearly programme comprises; regular short film screenings at venues across the city, Community Outreach and Audience Development Programme, Film in Learning Programme, Filmmakers Forum, and the Hull International Short Film Festival.

The first Hull International Short Film Festival was held October 2001.
Nicolas Roeg opened the festival and screened his latest short film. The festival programme was both diverse in content and location. 120 short films screened from around the world and features were; 6 premieres, 1 world premiere, 20 guest speakers, 24 hour filmmaking challenge, industry event, 5 touring programmes, 18 screenings, 5 mixed traditional and non-traditional cinema venues. The first festival attracted a direct audience attendance of 1110.

Following another successful year in 2002, we are now planning the 2003 festival. While busy preparing for the festival, we are also developing a year-round programme of film activity, including youth film apprenticeships, GCSE study days, filmmakers support units and a unique film production support programme.

The festival programme will feature premieres, guest filmmakers, industry events, press shows, critical focus, competitions, the Short Film Video Library, prints from the periphery and European Eye. Screenings for all ages and special interests assured.