Competition: Can you make a film in 10 seconds?

Article by News Team | 16 Jan 2014

Channel 4 and the organisers of the 2014 Commonwealth Games have teamed up to present a new competition for emerging filmmakers. 9.88 Films, co-funded by Channel 4 and Creative Scotland, will run until 9 April. Taking inspiration from the rise of new ultra-short video clips popularised by sites like Vine and Instagram, the challenge is inspired by the Games – 9.88 refers to the current Commonwealth Games men's 100 metres record. To enter, filmmakers must create a film which can be a maximum of 10 seconds long, constructed using any form of moving image, on a theme of their choice. 

Over at the 9.88 YouTube channel, a series of 10-second films can be viewed from filmmakers such as Morag McKinnon and Bold Yin, the production company formed by comedians Iain Connell and Robert Florence of Burnistoun fame. Entries to the competition will be judged by a panel of experts, including Paul McGuigan (Sherlock and Lucky Number Slevin director), Nick Holt (The Murder Trial director-producer), Chris Young (The Inbetweeners producer), Iain Smith (producer of Cold Mountain, The Fifth Element and Children of Men), Beeban Kidron (director of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and Oranges are Not the Only Fruit), and Menhaj Huda (Kidulthood director), among others.

The jury's chair will be veteran broadcaster Stuart Cosgrove, one of the key creative minds behind Channel 4's Random Acts series. "Recent years have seen ultra short forms of content – tweets, GIFs and ever shorter films–- become an accessible form of mainstream communications," said Cosgrove. "We wanted to take that idea and show that short form doesn’t limit creativity or the creation of great works of art, and that making films can be simple and unintimidating. We’re hoping to discover some great new talent via 9.88 Films and show the world what can be done in just 10 seconds. Just like the 100m final, ultra short films can be truly captivating."

For details of how to enter, visit the 9.88 Films site.

http://9point88.com