2 Days Later Short Filmmaking Competition 2010 Launched

Now in its eighth year, supported by Screen South, UK Film Council and KCC Arts Investment Fund. This week sees the launch of 2 Days Later 2010, complete with a re-vamped website that contains full information, a trailer for this year’s event, and the opportunity to view previous year’s award winning films.

The Hours are Numbered

The aim of the competition is to devise and produce a chilling 10 minute short film within 48 hours total production time. Entrants are required to choose three items from a given list to feature their film productions. This years items include; the phrase “It was full before we left!”, a Clown, a Black Cat, a Magnifying Glass, a pair of Pliers, and a Belly Dancer!

Previously featured on ITV Meridian and BBC Local News, Kent has proven itself a hotbed for showcasing talent, with a back-catalogue of over 250 films made especially for the competition from all over the UK and Europe. This year’s films will be screened at The Halloween Screen Event in the haunted Theatre Royal Margate, on Saturday October 30th 2010.

“Horror was the obvious choice for our festival, as it appeals to the novice filmmaker and everyone can have a go. It’s about accessibility. We want people to not get too worried or scared about the process of making a film, and not spending too much time or money on it either. As we tell them - All you need is a camera and a bottle of ketchup.” Mick Etherton, Director of Beeping Bush

Since the competition began in 2003, the organisers, Beeping Bush, have been pleased to see many of their first-time filmmakers go on to train and succeed in careers within the media industry; with some, such as Herne Bay’s Russell Gomm, to then form Aurora Pictures and win Best Film in the Kent Film Festival 2008. Dominic Currie, from Surrey, who first cut his teeth in filmmaking as a regular and very successful competition entrant, won the Mark Ravenhill Guardian You-Tube Film Challenge 2008, to receive a year’s mentoring by top Channel 4 TV producers.

Previous Nottingham based Best Film 2007 winner Shawn Robert Smith’s The Soldier, succeeded to gain national cinema release with Showcase Cinemas in October 2008; and the short has now been developed into a £5Million production 3D feature film - The 4th Reich - now filming in Ukraine, starring John Pertwee, Tom Savini and Jason Flemyng.

“I entered the competition to test my idea with audiences. We had a concept for a period short horror film but had much potential for a feature. 'The Soldier' was almost certainly a platform for the feature, but I had to be sure. We made the whole thing in 46 hours from script to screen, and on a budget of £500! Competitions like 'The 2 days later competition' are a fantastic chance to show a genre audience what you're made of. 'The Soldier' was very very well received, so we knew we had plenty of scope for the feature. I'm now about to direct a feature film for $5m starring Sean Pertwee, Jason Flemyng, Tom Savini, Doug Bradley and more. And all thanks to the 2 days later film competition!”
Shaun Robert Smith, Director of The 4th Reich

“Each year we receive fantastically well made films of all types, from traditional zombie flicks to more sophisticated psychological productions. Films made with digital stills cameras, and one past entry was actually awarded BEST FILM in 2007 by our Film Industry Judging Panel, shot on only a mobile phone!”
Mick Etherton, Director of Beeping Bush

This year’s judging panel at present includes (with more to be confirmed):
Kim Newman, multi-award-winning journalist, author & broadcaster; contributing editor to 'Empire' and 'Sight & Sound' magazines
Barry Basset, Managing Director of VMI High Definition and Broadcast
Mike Shaw, Film correspondent KM What’s On,Founder/editor-in chief of The Void, entertainments’ website

Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories including Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Actor. There will also be an audience vote for Best Popular Film. The filmmakers are competing for the opportunity to develop their career by winning a week’s hire of Broadcast Quality High Definition cine DSLR camera package from Soho sponsors VMI High Definition and Broadcast.

Entrants can access the competition brief here. The closing date for entries is 5pm, Wednesday 29th September. Any age can submit a film entry, but the lead producer must be 18 or over to enter.

Download the flyer here (pdf 6.3MB)

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