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 8th May. 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.
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.
