Irish filmmakers are being offered the chance to enter a new short film competition, run by Ford Ireland in partnership with the Titanic 100 Cobh 2012 Festival.
Inspired by the consistently high standard of Irish short films and Terry George’s recent Academy Award winner The Shore, Ford’s competition – titled 8 Minutes - invites applicants to submit a short film of up to eight minutes in length before the closing date of May 8th. Entries may be adapted from work made previously but must not have been seen in any public forum prior to the Ford Short Film Competition. If you have an existing film, this is a great opportunity for you to be in with a chance to really showcase your work at a prestigious event.
Twelve films, including the winning entry, will be selected for screening at an awards event in the beautiful gardens of Fota House in Cobh on the evening of June 9th - Cobh’s answer to the Oscars! One lucky winner will receive the use of a Ford Fiesta, taxed and insured, for one year, a €2,000 fuel voucher and will have their film showcased on the Irish Film Board’s website. Local Cork band FRED will perform on the night and there will also be artisan food stalls and refreshments available to purchase as well as lots to keep all the family entertained.
All films will be seen by a leading panel of film industry experts including Fiona Shaw CBE, the internationally acclaimed actress and theatre director originally from Cork; Cork actress Jennifer Erin Lee who stars in the forthcoming Titanic series, Blood and Steel; producer of BAFTA-winning short film, Pitch Black Heist, Gerardine O’Flynn; Alan Fitzpatrick, managing Director of Filmbase; and Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Director of Henry Ford and Son, Ireland.
Films must not exceed eight minutes in duration but can be any length up to 8 minutes including opening and closing credits. Entrants are encouraged to explore themes connected to the magnificent cruise-liner ‘Titanic’ such as: journey to a better life; transcending differences; love never forgets; engineer the future – surpassing standards; never accept complacency; expect the unexpected; self-less sacrifice; heroism in the face of adversity; fallibility of man; hope – making a better future; and overcoming obstacles.
Marc Anderson, Programme Director of Titanic 100 Cobh 2012 said: “Cobh will be buzzing during 2012 as we commemorate this important part of the town’s history. We are delighted with Ford’s support”.
Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Director of Henry Ford and Son, Ireland, commented: “The Titanic is an important part of Cobh and Cork’s history so it is fitting for Ford, with our historical Cork roots to be involved in this project. In addition to providing vehicles for use during the year, we are delighted to be sponsoring a novel Titanic-themed short film competition for budding filmmakers. This event will not only offer filmmakers an opportunity to develop and showcase their work, but will be an evening of culture and great family fun for those attending in the beautiful gardens surrounding Fota House”.
Entries from all interested film-makers are invited and Ford is particularly encouraging entries from film students, in any genre or medium including live action, animation, experimental, music video, documentary. All entries will be submitted by uploading to YouTube.
Full details of the competition, including submission guidelines, are available on www.8minutes.ie.
About the Judges
FIONA SHAW CBE – Actress: Born in Cork and living in Cobh in her youth, Ms Fiona Shaw is an internationally renowned actress who has been in many international films. Her works include My Left Foot, The Taming of the Shrew, As you Like it, Jane Eyre, the Black Dahlia and playing the insufferable Aunt Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter movies.
JENNIFER ERIN LEE – Actress: Cork. Jennifer recently completed filming as Lady Thomas Andrews, wife to the Chief Architect of the Titanic, in the soon to be aired TV SeriesBlood and Steel, the story of how the luxury Liner, Titanic was built in Belfast by White Star Lines over 15 years from 1897 and the journey that has stirred the masses ever since. The series is directed by Ciaran Donnelly with other actors including Chris Noth, Alessandra Mastronardi and Derek Jacobi.
GERARDINE O’FLYNN – Winner of the 2012 BAFTA Awards for Best Short Film: Pitch Black Heist – A film Starring Liam Cunningham and Michael Fassbender. They are professional safe crackers who meet on a simple job to relieve an office safe from its contents. The catch is that a light activated alarm system impels the men to embark on a pitch black heist.
ALAN FITZPATRICK - Alan is Managing Director of Filmbase, a national resource centre for new and emerging filmmakers in Ireland. Filmbase works with a variety of national agencies to develop and promote opportunities for filmmakers through supports that include production funding, training, masterclasses, networking events, mentoring and the publication of Ireland’s only film magazine, Film Ireland. Alan oversees all of Filmbase’s film production awards, including those with the broadcasters RTE and TG4 which have collectively supported over 250 short films since their inception.
EDDIE MURPHY - Chairman and Managing Director of Henry Ford and Son, Ireland. Henry Ford’s legacy was providing mobility to the masses by way of producing Ford motorcars. In 1912, the same year as the Titanic’s Voyage, Henry Ford arrived in Cobh (then Queenstown) from America and established Henry Ford and Son five years later. Ford has a pivotal and important role in transportation around the world and a distinct link to Cork. As well as being the key representative to this link, Mr Eddie Murphy is Ford Ireland’s Nominated Judge for the Ford Short Film Competition.
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