6th London Short Film Festival Supported by Vauxhall

LONDON – October 30, 2008: London’s premier short film festival returns for a 6th year this January, and with support from Vauxhall promises to offer a cutting edge survey of the best filmmaking action in the UK right now.

This year, the 6th London Short Film Festival will be taking place across more venues in London then ever before. Venues already confirmed are the ICA, Curzon Soho & Renoir Cinemas, Roxy Bar & Screen, BAFTA and Rich Mix, with a number of others due to confirm soon.

The 6th London Short Film Festival brings together the best in contemporary talent in drama, animation, documentary, experimental and music video across ten days of screenings. The 6th festival is not only set to be the biggest, but also the most eclectic – covering cinemas spectrum from no-budget wonders to glossy 35mm marvels.

Entries for short film submissions have now closed with over 1000 films being received. Festival directors Philip Ilson and Kate Taylor are currently viewing all the entries to create a selection of the freshest new work.

Festival Director Philip Ilson said: “We’ve received a huge number of film entries for the 6th London Short Film Festival and we’re extremely excited about growing the festival into our biggest one so far. For the first time the films are set to be screened across London at some of the City’s iconic cinema venues making short films more accessible than ever before.”

Entries are still open until 15 December 2008 for filmmakers to enter the Vauxhall Auteur Award. The award aims to find the UK’s most talented, undiscovered filmmakers and is a chance for the next generation of DIY auteurs to showcase their talents across various filmmaking disciplines. The competition required that entrants were involved in at least three of the film making roles including producer, writer, director, camera, actor, editor, and music composer. The winner will receive £750 and the runner up will receive £250 prize money towards their next film-making project.

Vauxhall Auteur Award Director Lucia Helenka, who created the competition said: “The standard of entries last year was extremely high and from the applications received so far, the bar seems to have been raised even further. To enter all auteurs need to do is simply fill in the application form at www.shortfilms.org.uk.?;

Awards and prizes will be also awarded by the UK Film Council for the ‘Best Short’ Award, plus awards from Shooting People and further partners.

The festival also offers filmmakers and industry participants feedback, an ongoing array of free industry events and networking at the Curzon Soho, supported by UK Film Council, Rushes Soho Shorts, and Shooting People.

Vauxhall Motors and the UK Film Council return as sponsors for the 6th Festival, along with media partners Shooting People. New media support comes from BBC Film Network and Wallflower Press. The festival will also be linking up with Jersey’s Branchage Film Festival and the East End Film Festival to present joint screenings and events, as well as hosting events with the New Producers Alliance, Rushes Soho Shorts, London Film Academy, Think Sync Films, BAFTA, TenderPixel Gallery, and Beat Happening magazine.

The London Short Film Festival was created to celebrate imaginative short film-making and punk attitude. This year’s festival opens on Friday 9th January 2009. For more information on the London Short Film Festival, check out www.shortfilms.org.uk.