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Organised for the fifth year by the Birmingham City University’s Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), Cinem@tic is supported by Birmingham’s New Technology Institute (NTI) and the IMAX Cinema Birmingham.
Festival Director, TIC’s Stephen Gordon explains: “Cinem@tic exists to encourage innovation in short film-making, irrespective of production budget. Our judges will be looking at how this is demonstrated in student and independent productions, as well as in funded films from established production companies”.
Entries of no more than 10 minutes in length are sought in Cinem@tic’s drama, documentary, animation and experimental categories. A panel of local professional judges will make awards in each, as well as for the best student film and overall ‘most innovative film’. A ‘people’s choice’ award will also enable the festival’s audience to vote for their favourite film.
TIC’s Stephen Gordon says: “There is a rich social and cultural tapestry across the Midlands to inspire new film-makers. The time and budgetary constraints of short-film production encourage film-makers to be rigorous with their content, engendering high levels of imagination and innovation.”
This view was endorsed by Cannes Film Festival-winning director, Ken Loach, during his recent keynote speech at TIC. Highlighting the need to respect the craft of film-making and focus on fundamental skills, Ken said: “A film can be shot and framed well or badly regardless of funding”.
Ken Loach also criticised what he perceived to be the ‘colonisation’ of British Cinema by Hollywood-produced films. He viewed this as creating ‘an impossible barrier for independent film-makers’. TIC’s Stephen Gordon comments: “Whilst there is now a tremendous spectrum of organisations and festivals to support independent film-making, screening opportunities are still vastly out-numbered by the plethora of mainstream multiplex cinemas showing largely formulaic Hollywood productions. Events such as Cinem@tic are vital to help new innovative films reach new audiences”.
Independent film producers are increasingly benefiting from new digital technologies, which provide powerful, yet affordable, professional production and editing capabilities. These were amply demonstrated in last year’s winning film, ‘The Fool Looks At The Finger That Points To The Sky’, an animation by Derby-based director, Aaron Bradbury. TIC’s Stephen Gordon says: “The judging panel and audience were completely swept away by the sheer complexity, detail and convincing way Aaron brought an imaginary environment to life”.
The significance of new technologies in film-making has attracted, for the first time, prize sponsorship from Birmingham’s New Technology Institute (NTI). As Apple’s Accredited Training Centre in Birmingham, NTI provides training in specialist software including Final Cut Pro, Shake, Motion and Logic. Programme Manager Oliver Williams says: “Birmingham’s NTI is delighted to offer a training place to Cinem@tic’s winning director. Our Apple accredited digital production courses have already helped to develop the skills and careers of a wide range of industry professionals”.
Anyone wishing to submit a film is asked to send preview copies, together with a completed registration form, on VHS or DVD format by Friday 24th August 2007. All submissions must be suitable for a general audience. Master copies of short-listed films must be supplied in miniDV, DVCAM, DVCPRo, Betacam SP or Digital Betacam format.
