A2 Advanced Portfolio G324

Festivals

Part 4
Festivals


The BFI london film festival is a worldwide renowned film festival in which films from around the globe are publicly displayed for the public in large forums and cinemas around London. The venues for the showing of the films cover a diverse range and include:


By covering a diverse range of cinemas the film festival is able to include a wide variety of film genres and types allowing a wider audience in to the festival, including a animation shorts section designed specifically for children. By allowing all types of films to be displayed, it allows the film to include a section for shorts. They screen these in groups due to the social issues with in the film, the regions of the films setting, due to the directors or producers of the film or simply due to their genre. By doing this the audience watch usually a selection of 6 - 8 films and as such get to see more of whats on offer in shorts production at the moment. 
The film festival is sponsored by many sponsors which allows for extra funding which enables the festival to span for a month and include a number of films from around the globe and with many genres. Some of the sponsors are:
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Its self acclaimed definition is as follows:
‘ Established in 1947, the Edinburgh Film Festival is renowned around the world for discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema - and for heralding and debating changes in global filmmaking. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fuelled by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to spotlight the most exciting and innovative new film talent, in a setting steeped in history. 
Notable films premiered in recent years have included: 35 SHOTS OF RUM, THE HURT LOCKER, MOON, FISH TANK, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, SOMERS TOWN, MAN ON WIRE, CONTROL, KNOCKED UP, RATATOUILLE, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, TSOTSI, BILLY ELLIOT and AMORES PERROS.
EIFF is supported by Creative Scotland, The City of Edinburgh Council, the Scottish Government through the Edinburgh Festival’s Expo Fund and the BFI.
The Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) was founded in 2010 with a vision to be the lead agency for film and the moving image in Scotland. The CMI currently comprises the EIFF, Edinburgh Filmhouse and Edinburgh Film Guild and its aim is to lead, inspire, educate and entertain in the moving image space. The CMI is currently developing an ambitious plan to create new businesses and initiatives in Scotland related to film thought and practice.’
With in the EIFF they have a shorts weekend which dedicates itself to the promotion and screening of short films. Alongside this a competition is run to find new shorts and new talent. The 8 finalists of this competition have their films premiered on the shorts weekend allowing upcoming directors and writers to showcase their talents. 
As described by the festival 
‘Encounters Bristol International Film Festival is the UK’s longest running competitive short film and animation festival. The festival presents one of the world’s best-known showcases and meeting points for emerging talent, and seeks to promote the importance of short film as a means to develop the next generation of filmmakers and animators.
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History
The festival began life in 1995 as Brief Encounters - originally envisioned as a ‘one-off' event, to mark the centenary of cinema. It proved so popular that it is now an annual attraction - expanding year on year and acknowledged internationally as one of the world's most respected celebrations of short film and animation.
In 2001, the short film festival was joined by Animated Encounters - celebrating and showcasing the productions, talent, creativity, technology and skills that make animation such a popular and successful film form worldwide. It too, has enjoyed a rapid rise to global prominence, as is demonstrated by its status as the UK's representative for the prestigious European Cartoon D'Or.
Originally these two festivals were held at separate times of the year, however, in 2006 the two events united under the Encounters Short Film Festival banner to record-breaking effect. This trend continued for the next 3 years with the festival growing from strength to strength with each annual event.
2010 saw the return of Animated Encounters with the competition programmes being divided into three strands; Animated Encounters, dedicated to showcasing short animated films, Brief Encounters which continues to provide a platform for both live action and animated short films, and DepicT!, a Watershed project for the competition of ninety second short films.
Highlights from the most recent edition of the festival include actor Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings Trilogy), comedian Tim Minchin, director Ken Wardrop discussing his progression from Shorts to Features, and a Cinematography Masterclass with Chris Ross (London to Brighton).
Previous special guests at the festival have included Andrea Arnold, Jeremy Brock, John Coates, Paddy Considine, Mark Kermode, Richard Eyre, Henry LaBounta, Peter Lord, Phill Jupitus and Frank Cottrell Boyce.
Now
In December 2010, Encounters International Film Festival became a qualifying festival for Academy Awards Short Film Category. Then during March 2011, Encounters announced a new partnership with the European Film Academy Short Film Initiative, becoming a member of the elite circle of 15 European festivals that present the nominations for the European Film Academy Short Film Awards.
Encounters is now the leading UK gateway to the world’s most prestigious short film and animation awards, also including BAFTA's and Cartoon D'Or.
The 2011 festival will be held between 16 – 20 November, at venues in and around the Harbourside area of Bristol, UK. Encounters Festivals Ltd is a limited company and registered charity, managed by a board of trustees.’
How they describe themselves
‘We are a not-for-profit festival celebrating the wealth of talent working across all genres of short film including live action drama, documentary, animation, music video, and broadcast design including online or mobile content, title sequences, and idents.
The work of newcomers and established filmmakers is promoted by screening work at cinemas, screening rooms and cafes throughout Soho and London’s West End. In conjunction with the competitive program we hold a large variety of debates and discussions on all aspects of media and filmmaking. The event program also builds in networking and case studies. Our aims are to provide an arena introducing creativity, new/established practitioners and those partners that can help assist in supporting and furthering  people’s ideas.
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BAFTA Seminars
We consider a short film to be under 12minutes, the time limit for most our competitive categories but we also consider longer short format work in our Long Form selection which includes work up to 30 minutes in length.
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Deluxe Soho Discussions
Our annual activities centre around a 10 day festival (2o to 29 July 2011) where the work of both established filmmakers and newcomers is viewed and judged on a completely level platform. These are joined by UK and international programmes and guest curators providing a total of 24 film programmes and 45 plus events within the festival.
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Apple Store Panels
The competitive categories are:
The International Award
The Long Form Award
The Documentary Award
The Short Film Award
The Animation Award
The Music Video Award
The Broadcast Design Award
The Newcomers Award
Through the Autumn and Spring we curate programmes of work at other festivals and events, while also encouraging production companies and organisations to view content from the most recent festival. Hopefully resulting in those filmmakers being invited to pitch on new projects and jobs as they arise.
Productions entered consistently feature a host of recognisable names and faces alongside gifted ‘unknowns’ giving everyone the opportunity to see, unmistakably, the british aptitude for filmmaking and showcasing global filmmaking talent. Sue Johnston, James Fox, Mackenzie Crook, Dita Von Teese, David Tennant, David Thewlis, Saffron Burrows, Jimi Mistry, David Soul, Patsy Palmer, Jack Dee, Phil Jupitus, Natalie Press and Michael Sheen are but a few of the people who give their time, often for free, to play characters in these films providing an interest for a broader public audience.
At the conclusion of the festival the Rushes Awards are held to  announce the most acclaimed production from each category. Judges ranging across the creative industries vote for their preferred film, the 3 finalists from each category being invited to attend to hear the announcement, with all attendees then invited to celebrate and commiserate at a Closing Night Party.
Previous award presenters have included  Joseph Fiennes, Basement Jaxx, Fennela Woolgar, Doreen Mantle, Stuart Manning, Tim Searle, Damon Thomas, Craig Conway, Scott Capurro, Don Boyd, Michelle Dewberry, Jodie Albert, Miranda Richardson, Matt Barbet, Simon McBurney, Nicky Hambleton-Jones, Tamar Hassan, Rita Tushingham, Gail Porter, Angellica Bell, Dawn Porter, Nick Moran, Graham Norton, Sean Pertwee, Nic Roeg, Leslie Philips, Ray Winstone and Damian Lewis all of whom have been very supportive in raising awareness of the talented work seen during the festival week.
Rushes Soho Shorts Festival is also indebted to the work of their spokespeople who have included Paul Andrew Williams, Nick Moran, Con Oneill, Bill Nighy, Alison Steadman, Ray Winstone, Nick Broomfield, Geraldine James, and Charles Dance.’
The London shorts Film Festival as described on their website
‘MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
The London Short Film Festival, now in its 9th year, is recognised as the premiere UK showcase for cutting-edge UK independent film.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Renowned for daring cross-arts programming, we showcase the very best of the country’s raw talent. The London Short Film Festival is a Mecca for the UK’s young creative talent and a significant date in the UK film calender.
Every year the Festival’s large and loyal audience flock to screenings and events, and this network has grown steadily over almost a decade. The Festival will take place over eleven days at about ten major London venues in January 2011, combining independent shorts, plus live music, training, parties, art and fashion.
ORGANIZERS
Chloe Roddick (Producer) ; Philip Ilson (Festival Director); Rebecca Mark-Lawson (Executive Producer); Carla MacKinnon (Executive Producer).
GENERAL RULES
The London Short Film Festival is governed by the content, quality and breadth of films submitted. We believe filmmakers should not be bound by rules, or dictated by genre, length or theme.
But for those who require more information, we accept drama, comedy, documentary, experimental, animation, lo/no-budget, music videos, or a combination of any or all of the above.

HISTORY
In 2003 Philip Ilson and Kate Taylor organised the first Halloween Short Film Festival at the ICA. This was formed as a continuation of The Halloween Short Film Club which Philip had been programming since 1994. In 2008 the festival became the London Short Film Festival and has been growing year on year to take in more films, live music, industry and training and diverse, high quality venues.
2011 FACTS AND FIGURES
• Over 5000 tickets sold
• 60+ events across 10 days and 22 venues
• 75% of events sold to capacity
• Over 220 films screened
“The Best Short Film Festival in the World” – Guardian Guide
‘Too good a party to miss’ - Time Out
‘A London bastion of cutting-edge short films and multimedia’ - The Times
‘Film fans who prefer multimedia thrills to multiplex fodder have flocked to this festival since its inception’ - Metro
‘Excellent film/music festival’ - Critics Choice, Time Out
‘Cannes may have Borat in a thong, Sundance may have condiments with Robert Redford’s face on them, but only the freakiest film festival in town can offer pole dancers and a film competition judged by Larry Clark. How d’you like them apples, London?’ - Empire’
Why is it important to be screened at a festival?
The showing of films at film festivals is important for any filmmaker, but depending on the filmmaker themselves this can be for different reasons. For new filmmakers the showing of their film at a festival is extremely important as not only does it enable there film to be seen by a number of critics, directors, writers and companies but it also enables it to be screened to the public. By being screened on this scale it can show the filmmakers potential for future films but in some cases their potential to move on to features. For a more established filmmaker or company, festivals can be used as advertisements and publicity, it also often where films can be spotted for awards or accreditations and therefor for the more experienced filmmakers it is a chance for them to showcase there talent and attempt to be rewarded for it.
Who attends them?
Depending on the festival itself the main audience can differ. However, the audiences will usually be made up of people in the industry, either people involved in production of the films (or films in general), members of the media, critics, judges and those involved in the festival itself. But this is not the only audience as students of film and media often attend festivals, as well as members of the public who have a passion for film. Never the less the predominate audience are those who are educated in the reading of film, or that have a wide understanding of the industry in general.
How are they supported? 
The festivals are usually funded by private businesses and sponsors who depending on the festival can be extremely high profile. Depending on the sponsors themselves the festivals can speculate more interest from the general public as certain images are stimulated by certain branding. If a festival gets the right sponsor it can extremely boost their publicity. However, some festivals are funded by governmental bodies and in these cases become more public as they are made far more national through out the country as in effect the public are funding the festival. 

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