The 46-hour Film Jam
On the 24th of June SAE and Gorilla Film Magazine hosted a 46-hour film competition, hoping to encourage young filmmakers to get off their arses and make a movie. The team leaders put their hands into the mystery box and plucked out a scrap of paper with their theme written on it, they were also given a mug to use as a prop and a random line of dialogue to fit into their film. Each movie would be about three minutes in length and had to be delivered before the deadline on the 26th, otherwise they wouldn’t be eligible to win a prize and their film wouldn’t be shown on a big, shiny screen. A couple of the teams were still rendering their films come the screening, and some of them didn’t even have time to submit, but nevertheless the films that were shown were a joy to watch and it was surprising to see how well these shorts had come together, despite the amount of time the filmmakers had to write, shoot and edit their babies.
Getting started
Out of the selection of shorts that were shown, three would go on to win prizes, and it was down to three judges to decide what films deserved the honour. After a half hour of energetic discussion, in which most of the conversation boiled down to how surprising the quality of the shorts were, the three judges shuffled awkwardly to the front of the screening room and announced the winners. Third place was ‘Ben’, the judges were impressed not only with the inventive camerawork and coherent story line, but also with how the filmmakers had taken the theme of ‘redemption’ and turned it on it’s head, showing how the idea of redemption can really mean something different depending on the individual.
The prizes are handed out
The second place went to ‘Ashes’, a beautifully shot film about lost love. The judges enjoyed the mood the film created, and appreciated the stylish, clever visuals and intriguing contrast of narratives.
First place went to Love Against the Odds, a heartfelt little film about the wonder of love. The film itself was a narrative of imagery, focusing more on objects, or landscapes rather than the couple who long to be with each other. We glimpse a quick shot of the protagonists, but the majority of the time we only see associations in the form of random items, which builds a feeling of nostalgia and a kind of understanding of what love is like in a long-term relationship. The tone of the film is light and breezy, and the expression of love bursts out of the semantics and gives you a hug. The imagery that is usually presented when dealing with the subject of love, such as kissing, is never shown, because it doesn’t need to be, the film is about love itself, no the presentation of it.
The judges and the winners of the competition
This is the first time either SAE or Gorilla Film Magazine have hosted a 46-hour film competition, but I’m sure it won’t be the last. Check out the winner of the competition below.
