Release Issued by Nokia:
Mobile movies dazzle at this year’s Raindance Film Festival
Raindance, the UK’s premiere independent film festival, today became the first UK festival to screen movies made entirely on a mobile handset. From today, visitors to the Raindance Film Festival will be able to watch the handset finalists in this year’s Nokia Shorts 15 second film competition.
Nokia Shorts presents the ultimate challenge to up and coming film makers – to create a film lasting just 15 seconds. The competition has been running for four years and for the last two has included a dedicated category for movies made on a mobile handset – recognising the increasing popularity and scope of content made with mobiles.
The handset finalist’s films span a range of genres from comedy to romance and feature diverse plots from the funeral of a cuddly toy to a day in the life of a Londoner. The winner of the handset category will be announced at the Festival’s closing night ceremony and will win the chance to mingle with the movers and shakers in the film industry with an all expenses paid trip to the Cannes Film Festival as well as one of the latest Nokia Nseries handsets.
Nokia Shorts 2006 was launched in July by award winning director Kevin Macdonald
(One Day in September; Touching the Void). The finalists in the main category will be announced in late October.
The Raindance Film Festival is held at Cineworld Shaftsbury Avenue and will run from 27th September – 8th October. Those that can’t make it along to the festival will be able to view all the finalists in the handset-only category at www.nokiashorts.co.uk and vote for their favourite.
“We are continually astounded by the quality of entries received each year in the Nokia Shorts competition,” said Mark Squires, Communications Director, Nokia UK. “In particular, we’re delighted to see more and more people picking up their handsets and making movies. As the video quality of mobile devices continues to improve dramatically we look forward to seeing the results as more film makers experiment with mobile video.”
“This competition continues to highlight the fantastic potential and talent amongst up and coming British film makers,” said Elliot Grove director and founder of Raindance. “We’re delighted to be able to give the finalists for the handset category exposure to film industry professionals through the 2006 Raindance Film Festival, as well as online on the Nokia Shorts website.”
The Handset finalists are:
1. The Tour of the House - Andy Kinnear and Céin McGillicuddy
2. Sylvester's Funeral - Scott Thomas Buckle
3. A Good Reason To Wear Sunscreen - Claudiu Voicu
4. A Wish - Loftus Hall
5. A Londoner’s Day - Olivier Soullard
