7/17/2014

Ottawa 48 Hour Film Project Screens This Week


Ottawa’s reputation as Film Challenge City continues with the inaugural Ottawa edition of the 48 Hour Film Project. The 48 Film Project, though, is a global film challenge that dares filmmakers throughout the world to conceive, shoot, and complete a short film within forty-eight hours. Winners from each city move on to the big Filmapalooza event, which happens in Hollywood this year! Ten finalists then move on to a special screening at Cannes! Going from The Mayfair to Hollywood to Cannes is a pretty exciting trip!

I helped judge the 48 Hour Film Project this year, so I can vouch for the films that were completed on time. It’s always fun to see how teams interpret similar ideas differently, and the ample enthusiasm on display from the local film community is always impressive. I can’t say anything more until Saturday, though… Even film challenges are embargoed!

There’s a good range of stuff to be seen, as the teams came up with creative ways to use their randomly-picked genres (it could be anything from horror to westerns) and the mandatory catch criteria that ensures films are made in the given time frame. This year’s criteria sees each film include a researcher named Andrew or Agnes Angstrom, some flowers, and the line, “They’re here.” Or “They’re here!” if it’s a horror flick. It all depends how the creative juices were flowing when the teams first received the tools.

All the films will screen at The Mayfair on Saturday, July 19th at 1:00 pm regardless of whether the teams finished on time or succumbed to sleep. (Only films submitted within the forty-eight hour time frame are eligible for awards.) The screening also includes some outtakes, Q&As, and other footage/interviews from participants, along with the dolling out of all the prizes. What will win?

Hope to see you there!


Oh, and if you’re eager to test your talents in the Ottawa’s next film challenge, SPARTA is accepting registrations. This one has a big cash prize, so don’t be hasty! Visit: http://www.spartafilmchallenge.com/