the shortlist
Animation
with judges comments by Owen SticklerA Short and Happy Film
Steffan Roberts
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
A short and happy film where the whole world sings along to a song.
"The title says it all. Well animated and nicely designed. Simple, fresh and funny."
Another Last Case
Matt Pollock & Nick Clackett
University of Glamorgan
Private Eye, Blake tries to pin down two Mafia crooks.
"Another Last Case takes a classic Film Noir setup and gives it a new spin with its inventive mix of 2D and stop motion."
Heartstrings
Rhiannon Evans
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
When falling in love means being tied together, what happens when you reach the limit of that piece of string?
"Heartstrings says a lot with very little. Simple design, two figures in one shot, but great character animation tells the whole story."
Sky-Caper
Todd Setter & Dean Wright
University of Glamorgan
A sky high comedic caper! A battle between Ivan and Suds as they compete to see who’s the best window cleaner.
"Sky-Caper delivers all you want in an animated short: It’s is well animated. It’s written and directed with humour and great timing. It’s visually inventive, successfully mixing 2D and CGI, and has high production values throughout."
Super Lexi Games
Bryony James
University of Glamorgan
Lexi battles through the history of computer games...for a carton of milk.
"A funny short with lots of visual gags. Super Lexi Games is well directed and animated with a great pay off at the end."
Factual
with judges comments by Sian Price and Lowri Elen Jones
Dear Matthew
Keith O’Shea
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
In January 1999 Matthew O’Reilly left his parents home in Barnstaple, Devon, he has not been seen since. All that remains of him are his paintings which his father, Tim curates.
"Immediately compelling, the desperation of a father drew in the viewer. The story and subject was clear from the off. It was stark, thought provoking and took the viewer on a real journey. It was never in danger of being a monologue yet the father’s pride and loneliness was palpable. It was poignant without being over the top, and documented in forensic detail the disintegration of a family. The film was beautifully shot and cleverly edited, with great use of sound – my only criticisms were the sound levels and one grammatical error in wording! This was a film made by a director with huge talent."
Five Ways of Seeing Iraq
Hashem Zaini
University of Glamorgan
Glimpses of life in a country rebuilding and remembering.
"This was a stark and immediately compelling documentary. There was a journey for the viewer, which delved into the unknown crevices of a country rebuilding itself. It avoided obvious clichés and was dramatically disorientating and surprising. From the poetic opening, it immediately grabbed the viewer’s attention. Whilst I liked the feel of an unobserved observer, it may have benefitted from some more context and explanation – and a more impartial feel. It lacked a conclusion and the sound was problematic at times. On the whole though, it was a subtle film with some shocking insights. It was a sobering reminder that Iraq shouldn’t fall off our radar but a film which expressed the hopes of a country – full of new insight and fantastic access."
Letters to Angola: an unlikely friendship
Joseph Sharp & Lauren Muchan
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
A documentary story of an unlikely friendship between a young British girl and a Southern American Black Panther, who has been incarcerated in solitary confinement in Angola Prison Louisiana, for 37 years.
"Although at times I felt this would work better as a radio feature, it was a film that kept the viewer thinking long after it had finished. It was slick, beautifully filmed and edited, and fantastically inventive. The music was subtle and compelling. It may have assumed too much knowledge and I felt the subject-matter/context could have been flagged up a little better from the start but that didn’t detract from the compelling journey. It didn’t stray into drama and was effortlessly thought-provoking. Curious, poetic and unique."
The Horse: His Industry, Our Industry
Eleanor Flaherty
University of Wales, Lampeter
A documentary celebrating the role of the working horse in South Powys.
"From the title alone, I predicted that I wouldn’t enjoy this film. I envisaged a horse-loving nostalgia-fest of schmaltz! I was totally wrong. This was fantastically shot, well structured and revealed real visual flair. The interviewees were brilliant and shed fascinating light on the subject. It was an unknown and unappreciated snapshot into the horse and its place in all aspects of Welsh life and culture. The music was perfect and the storytelling top notch. It was a perfect way to explore a wider history through a single prism (i.e. the horse) and was summed up by one of the contributors – "part of the family. A Way of life". I could see this being broadcast on television tomorrow: it thoroughly deserved to be a finalist."
Tough Guy 453
James Birkett, Michael Howard & Laurence Cameron
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
The story behind the UK Tough Guy competition – Billed as the most physically challenging, mentally demanding, fear inducing ordeals in the world. This film follows the four time runner-up James Appleton, who dreams of one day being crowned "Tough Guy Supreme"
"Unusual and compelling characters on a fantastic, intoxicating journey; I was hooked the whole way! The film was tongue in cheek, with twists and turns, and just the right amount of melodrama. The key to a great factual documentary is to draw in the viewer from the start – and then keep them! It was a documentary that got to the very essence of the "macho" man. It was filmic – think Rob Roy, mixed with Riefenstahl’s Olympia, and Rocky! It was beautifully shot with energy, style and humour – perfectly complimented with the music. Technically, the sound and editing was head and shoulders above the rest. It unfolded brilliantly and the structure was spot on. This film was slick and unabashed. I was drawn into the chaos and tension. The juxtaposition between the main character and event he was taking part in, was captivating. I was swept along by the mix of beautiful stylized shots and frenetic actuality. It left me eager for next year’s event. A Boy’s Own fantasy for the 21st century!"
Fiction Undergraduate
with judges comments by John Giwa-Amu and Caradog James
Brennan’s Sacrament
Erik Kentta
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
The near future: Ray Brennan is an imprisoned political activist who plunges himself in to a desperate fight to over throw a perverted prison manager and to gain freedom for himself and his fellow inmates.
"This film had impressive visuals and production design, but it was completely let down by an overlong and pretentious script. The film is a very good example of a director that was clearly concentrating on the wrong aspects of his film. We felt that he ignored his audience and paid no attention to their need for clarity, brevity and emotional engagement."
Jediism
Aaron McKeever, Stephen Thomas, James Ormerod & David Brittain
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
Jedism is a mocumentary about a failing Cardiff based Jedi church and its floundering grand Jedi Master Daniel Jones. Will the church survive or will its doors be closed for good?
"Very funny start and wonderful central performance by Jonathan Owen. This film was let down by lack of focus and story development and, crucially, a complete dearth of funny jokes in the last two thirds of the movie."
Prints
Patrick Rees, Oliver Nudds & Josh Muzaffer
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
Amateur photographer David wants more photos of his ex-girlfriend Iris. Photography, the only outlet he can express himself through, drove her away. Now he revives their relationship through hundreds of photographs of her.
"This was a well shot and constructed film. The filmmaker involved the audience in the story and created tense and disturbing scenes. There was very good production design. He got good performances and it was an example of well executed storytelling. We felt that he is a very competent filmmaker who showed lots of potential. Our only criticism was that it was hard to care for any of the characters and this meant that it was hard to emotionally engage with the film as a whole."
Smoke
Rob Howells
Aberystwyth University
A son tries to find a symbolic place to scatter his father’s ashes in Llanelli.
"This film was full of funny and honest writing. We felt that he cared about his characters and had something to say. He knew the importance of leavening drama with humour; and made a good attempt of shaping a personal story into something that was entertaining for the audience. He got good performances from an amateur cast. His composition and camera placement worked well for the story."
Vacant
Oanis Rawbone
Swansea Metropolitan University
A short zombie film with a unique perspective on the genre.
"This was a funny, strange, and clever little short. We loved how much value the filmmaker got out of the small space and felt that it was very entertaining. It had great sound design and an interesting visual ‘look’. Unfortunately, several key story beats were confused and the overall premise of the film lacked narrative depth. However, if the filmmaker can further develop his storytelling skills then we feel that he has a bright future."
Fiction Postgraduate
with judges comments by Helen Grace
A Monster Movie
Marc Holtbecker, Valeriy Eremenko & Chiara Carbonara
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
When Anne applied for a mortgage she had no idea that it would lead to an epic struggle against the forces of capitalism. A riotous, satirical look at the credit crunch and a fight to the death between two very alternative superheroes.
"Surreal and imaginative, and highly entertaining. This fx-heavy short film is a good calling card for the visual creative talents of the film-makers"
Billy's Day Out
Ann-Marie McCormack
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
Recently bereaved Billy embarks on a day out to the gym to help overcome his loss, only to discover, to the amusement of others, that things are not as simple as the seem.
"Great performance from the lead actor, and well-handled comedy moments with a good overall consistency, showing promise."
BirthdayNicolas Booth & Cyrus Mirza’Shara
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
Mary celebrates her twentieth birthday with Leonard, a middle-aged professional in their small suburban home. However, Mary is determined this will be the last day of her captivity as she dreams of a gruesome escape from her keeper of ten years.
"Dark and mysterious, with a gripping tense tone, 'Birthday' uses sound design and frame composition effectively. Director Nicolas Booth is a talent to watch."
Ticket Stubs
Mark Tranter
Swansea Metropolitan University
A short comedy about two friends watching a movie at their local cinema.
"Inventive creation on suspense and tense drama, with excellent performances, and good camera and sound work to unsettle the nerves."
Videotapes
Brenning Hayden & Lucy Lawson - Duckett
University of Glamorgan
Sarah Colins had the life she imagined, but not the life she dreamed of. A tragic event brings Sarah home where she must confront her past.
"The director has drawn out good performances from his cast, and achieves a satisfying pace in this intriguing and well-rounded short film."
Games and Interacive Media
with judges comments by Richard Baker
AniWall
Mateusz Cyrankiewicz
Swansea Metropolitan University
Aniwall is an interactive, gesture-operated platform for applications used in public spaces, such as art installations, interactive advertising and information screens. Aniwall uses custom infra-red camera and lighting setup to analyze users’ motion and provide touch-less interaction experience.
"Wow! From a Student!!!! Good branding and ‘product’ support material. Really cool idea – not massively original (Microsoft have something similar called Project Natal that promises to bring Gesture recognition to games/ the office etc.) but AniWall unique to the arts market, and really well implemented demonstration of technology aiding creativity."
Child’s Interactive Bedroom
Kirsty Davies
University of Wales, Lampeter
An interactive website aimed at young children, with toys to interact with, objects to explore, artwork and games to investigate.
"Good level of interaction, providing games/ activities beyond the simple QT content through hot spots. Good thought out ‘set’, although much tidier than my kids bedrooms."
Dropr Multimedia Portfolio Collective
Noel Lynagh & Mateusz Cyrankiewicz
Swansea Metropolitan University
Dropr is an innovative approach to online portfolio hosting for artists and creative individuals. Incorporating the latest online technology Dropr provides its users with an attractive easy to manage platform to promote their artwork and connect with like-minded individuals.
"Really neat idea, and again not quite full marks on the innovative nature of it, but fantastically implemented resulting in a slick, professional, to create a genuinely "I’ll-use-this" user experience."
National Museum of Wales
Luke Collins
University of Glamorgan
Example of how motion art could be implemented into a museum.
"Excellent way of encouraging people to take a look inside the physical building. Felt slick, well put together."
Pulp Fiction DVD
Jalal Ali
University of Glamorgan
DVD for Pulp Fiction.
"Good use of text to support the film dialogue. Nice immersive ‘feel’ that helped set your expectations to the film."
Motion Graphics
with judges comments by Roughcollie
BBC iPlayer Ident
Geraint Thomas & Rory Williams
University of Glamorgan
Promo for BBC iPlayer.
"Well directed with good transitions and movement and plenty of impact. An animation faithful to the existing brand which top and tails very neatly. These two also showed up well with other entries."
Mikal Music Video
Cathrin Howells & Richard Jackson
University of Wales Lampeter
Pixilation and lightwriting techniques used to construct a narrative to accompany Mikal’s "You’re the One".
"A lot of effort went in to this and the techniques were combined well to create an entertaining video."
02 Advert
Edward Andrews
University of Glamorgan
Advert for O2.
"A strong, well delivered idea which made us laugh."
Smokestack
Matthew Roberts and Daryl Higgins
Glyndwr University
A sting to promote techno DJ/ Artist Paulo Mojo’s release " Smokestack".
"This was well designed and animated and worked well with the music."
The Thing Title Sequence
Krystian Morgan
University of Glamorgan
Title Sequence.
"Nice combination of typography and footage which ends with an unsettling title card to create an effective and appropriate title sequence. Some other strong work from this designer also featured."
Music Media
with judges comments by Ewan Jones Morris and Cassey Raymond
Blipverts
Inga Krikciukaite
University of Glamorgan
More visuals from Inga.
"We enjoyed the ambiance and ambiguous quality of this piece, which works well with the soundtrack although a little more visual variation would have been appreciated."
Emancipator
Huw Caddy
University of Glamorgan
Music Video.
"Showcased a good combination of well executed post production techniques with atmospheric footage and had a strong overall urban style. Although lots of different ideas maybe a few of these could have been chosen expanded upon."
Mikal Music Video
Cathrin Howells & Richard Jackson
University of Wales, Lampeter
Pixilation and lightwriting techniques used to construct a narrative to accompany Mikal’s "You’re the One".
"It's hard not to appreciate a solid piece of laborious stop motion especially with the addition of light drawings. We enjoyed the sheer amount of time consuming animation in this and its handmade quality. Having said this, some more attention could have been paid to the design and photography of the video."
Moments
Luc Bartlett
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
A young girls naivety changes into an overwhelming self awareness when the unforgiving outside world starts to invade her private space.
"We appreciated the range of ideas in this accomplished piece and it's always refreshing to see a reliance on in-camera tricks and atmospheric lighting. Little confused by the split screen aspect, but some good ideas nonetheless."
Presets
Jo Durrant
University of Glamorgan
Music Video.
"This is an energetic video which creatively uses post production effects to create a video entirely suitable for the accompanying music, although a little repetitive and it would be nice to see the same technique to an original track - there are plenty of bands out there."
Short Shorts
with judges comments by Brian Hannant
Aaron
Edward Andrews
University of Glamorgan
Aaron has announced he is a homo-sexual which has an impact on his life.
"A film brimming with imagination in terms of its imagery, visual language, use of superimposed text – and with a clear message. The filmmaker has managed to voice his anger and frustration without compromising the fine cinematic qualities of his film - nor the audience’s experience of watching it. Some phrases of the text needed a little more screen-time, nevertheless the overall statement was not lost. The first shot isolating the lone figure of the young man amid the swirl and bustle of the townspeople around him is perfectly achieved and dramatically accurate. And it sets the problem of HIV squarely in even the most ordinary community –nails it there. A very personal film."
A Child’s Line
Chris Allan
Swansea Metropolitan University
A short piece following a phone call made to Childline, by a girl who is being subjected to abuse.
"A short film filmed mainly in big close-ups of grabs of a telephone conversation between a help line councillor and a young victim – and the use of soft focus of her adult predator (presumably her father or close relative) is disturbing and thought provoking. The film does not sensationalize."
Blok
Krystian Morgan
University of Glamorgan
Experimentation of an unusual presence.
"A work of artistic merit: a cube moves through an architectural space, a light-well, a room. Mysterious, threatening. Great use and control of the images and sound – and focus. A film that is strong in its feelings for atmosphere and texture."
Statuarius Motum
Marie Hartung
Swansea Metropolitan University
A short comedic piece paying homage to Erwin Worm’s "One Minute Sculptures".
"An amusement and a parody of public space sculpture (among other things – the "animal" with baguette arms loping along like some weird ant-eater!). Delightful "moments" and gags set to comical music. A clever use of "found objects". I particularly liked the use of shadows on the ground – painting them; shovelling them into a bucket. It seems that the filmmakers and the cast had fun. And so will the audience."
Tomorrow
Jalal Ali
University of Glamorgan
A hard hitting visual perception of what happens unless we act today for tomorrow.
"A collage and mosaic of the present. And then a glimpse of a possible apocalyptic tomorrow – a child’s vision. A clear but simple message. Excellent use of image, montage and sound. Its tempo seems accurate and chilling."
TV
with judges comments by Brian Minchin and Berwyn Rowlands
Fiends
Drew Hill
Trinity College, Carmarthen
Stuart Daye is a recovering addict regularly attending addiction support meetings. But when his sobriety comes into question his fellow group members attempt to curb his appetites...by indulging their own.
"A clever script and a cheeky take on the horror genre. I was impressed by the imagination involved, and the focus of the film."
Gwenwyn y Geiriau
Catrin Newman
Trinity College, Carmarthen
Documentary which investigates the recent story of suicide amongst young people in Bridgend.
"A well researched and serious documentary on a sensitive issue."
Love Games
Hannah Jefferson
Aberystwyth University
A new job in a computer gaming shop turns out to be more exciting than he expects.
"A fun and interesting film made with colour and imagination."
Newport Speedway
David Brittain & Victor Ortega
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
We travel down to Newport Speedway for a day at the races, the sounds, smells, thrills and spills of the Newport Wasps vs The King Lynne Stars for the final of the premier trophy.
"A dynamic and vibrant documentary that brought the energy and colour of Speedway to the screen, and showed a professional flair for storytelling."
Stephen Thomas' Paranormal Investigation
Christina Lauridsen, Stephen Thomas & David Brittain
IFSW, University of Wales, Newport
Stephen Thomas travels around the UK in search of the truth behind mediumship. From haunted castles to chest waxing mediums Stephen has ups and downs throughout the film.
"An intriguing documentary that found fascinating subjects, and went to some lengths to get inside their world."
Welsh Language
with judges comments by Cath Treganna
Broken
Jenny Diesner
Bangor University
Abstract short film looking at a young woman’s experimentation with drugs.
"No huge narrative as such but short films can get away with this if they have atmosphere and this film had that. It was haunting with a lovely poetic use of words. Internalised and compelling. Would like to have seen more."
Bwrw Gwreiddiau
Nia Media James, Carys Davies & Sian Ifans
Trinity College Carmarthen
Documentary which follows the journey of a gang of students to the state of Ohio, in the USA, and which compares their experiences with those of migrants who moved there centuries ago.
"Charmingly directed with nice use of sepia camerawork. This was an interesting journey, a good concept and it was fun to get to know the students involved. I wanted to know how they fared in Ohio and found the theme engaging. On the whole, a good documentary."
Cariad
Deio Owain, Gareth Williams, Lowri Buckley & Rachel Loveridge
Aberystwyth University
"Irreverent and shocking contemplation on the many ways in which we love and how we sometimes love the wrong things. Think it shocked me but also made me feel I was getting a young person’s perspective on life. Short films are gateways to invention and defying conformity. Some had good narrative but looked soapy, this was visceral and held my attention."
Gwenwyn y Geiriau
Catrin Newman
Trinity College Carmarthen
Documentary which investigates the recent story of suicide amongst young people in Bridgend.
"Topical documentary about the press coverage of Bridgend suicides. It took an interesting angle about the press coverage, mixing contributing professionals with townsfolk and young people on the street. Poignant use of editing without being too sensational."
Lucky Number Nain
Gareth Wyn Roberts
Trinity College Carmarthen
When Nain dies, the last thing the young man thinks about is fighting, kidnap and drugs. The short film is filled to the brim with all of these. Oh, and a special lottery ticket...
"Great start, clever mix of strong and intriguing narrative with style and flair and humour. I was drawn in from the off and the themes were universal i.e. greed, betrayal, trust but told through characters I could wholly believe in. This was a rare entry as it mixed story with good imaginative direction successfully."