Sony Ericsson has collaborated with the Darklight Festival to find three aspiring film makers in Ireland, and help them make a short film each. The competition finalists will receive a €3,000 budget, a Sony Ericsson Vivaz HD video/camera phone and production support to make their short film. The finished shorts will be premiered on the opening night of the Darklight Festival, 28 October 2010.
In order to enter, filmmakers must submit a video show reel and a one page treatment/outline of their idea for a film which will be shot using the Sony Ericsson Vivaz mobile which has HD video capabilities. The judging criteria will include originality and imaginativeness of the concept; feasibility of film outline’s production, given time and funding restrictions; quality/originality of entrant’s showreel and the best use of mobility and size of the Vivaz handset.
Darklight Festival is aimed towards filmmakers, animators and artists whose work explores the convergence of film, technology and art. It began in 1999, seeking to act as an opportunity for filmmakers and artists to share their work and experiment with new technologies and has emerged as one of the most important art events of the year including music, gaming and industry workshops and talks. Darklight’s mission is to nurture new talent and to create new possibilities for the imagination.
At the launch of the ‘Free your Fillm’ competition, Darklight’s festival director, Nicky Gogan, states: “Following the success of our previous movie making challenges, ‘Dublin: The Movie’ and ‘Hotel Darklight’, we’re delighted to be working with Sony Ericsson on this year’s project, ‘Free Your Film’. This competition will be of interest to anyone looking for a break - from amateurs and students to working film makers – as it provides funding to produce a short film, an experienced production team to facilitate production and new, easy to use technology.”
Sony Ericsson’s partnership in the competition offers film funding and their latest technology with the smallest HD video camera phone in the world, the Sony Ericsson VivazTM. The filmmakers’ will be asked to shoot their chosen projects on the handset’s 8.1 megapixel camera which features and up to 35 minutes filmmaking and a memory of up to 8GB.
Irish actress Sarah Bolger is involved as a member of the judging panel, alongside Irish Producer Katie Holly (One Hundred Mornings), and representatives from the Darklight Festival and Sony Ericsson. At the launch of the competition Sarah Bolger said: “I am very excited to be involved in a project that is supporting Irish film making talent and looking forward to reviewing the competition entries, especially the creativity and ideas behind the entries. I’m a big fan of the Darklight Festival and have long been interested in the work Darklight has done over the past 11 years.”
Entries will close on Monday, 23rd August 2010 and the three finalists will be announced a week later on Monday, 30th August. The three finalists will be given the month of September to shoot their film which must be submitted for editing by Friday, 1st October 2010. The three short films will then premier at the Darklight Festival opening night. For more information on the project and out how to enter go to: www.darklight.ie/freeyourfilm
