A new film festival taking place in Nottingham is looking for original submissions of short films from filmmakers across the borough.
The first Nottingham International Microfilm Festival (NIM) intends to introduce a Chinese film industry phenomenon – microfilm – to new audiences.
Running in venues across Nottingham from October 15- 20, 2015, the Festival has attracted award-winning industry representatives from around the globe and intends to raise the profile of microfilms and showcase their application outside of China. Microfilm has been a rapidly developing sector in the Chinese film industry since 2010. Everyday, around 40 million people in China search for videos on the internet and many of them, especially young people, are looking for what’s known as microfilms – short films that can be watched on the commute between home, work or school.
Festival organisers Nottingham City Council, The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, who are key members of The Nottingham Screen Partnership, believe the sector provides a low-cost but high value springboard for filmmakers and businesses alike and are encouraging the established Chinese sector to engage with UK filmmaking talent and business.
This is an innovative city-wide initiative bringing the ‘microfilm’ format to cinema audiences across a range of venues,” said Professor Murray Pratt from Nottingham Trent University.
The concept of microfilm is already gaining international recognition as an art form, communications tool and media evolution, and the Nottingham International Microfilm Festival showcases examples of best quality from across these genres.
NIM is just one more example, following Notts TV and the National Videogame Arcade, of how Nottingham is pioneering in opening up new audiences, new formats, and new art and creative production in ways that are at the forefront of metropolitan cultural experimentation.”
Gianluca Sergi, Director of the Institute for Screen Industries Research at the University of Nottingham said: “NIM is proof of Nottingham’s intention to become the home for this exciting new way of thinking about short narrative formats, industry and talent.
“Microfilm is not just a word, it is a meeting place of new ideas, formats and talent. From film to video, games to animation, microfilms provide all types of talented individuals the opportunity to craft imaginative and engaging short stories for audiences to enjoy everywhere, from cinemas and TVs to exhibition spaces and online. Microfilm is fast becoming a meeting point for different narrative production cultures from China to the UK and Hollywood.”
Councillor Dave Trimble, portfolio holder for leisure and culture at Nottingham City Council, said: “Nottingham has been the scene for many a distinguished film project.
span>The city is proud to host its first international microfilm festival, which will help to raise Nottingham’s profile as an international hub for the screen industry.”
The NIM is open to all freelance film makers. Entries need to fit in one of four categories and should be submitted by 4 September 2015. Full criteria and further information at http://www.nottinghamscreenpartnership.com/
