Mosaic Films, Channel 4 and the BFI have joined forces to launch Britain Recut, a groundbreaking nationwide competition for documentary filmmakers, to mark the BFI’s ‘Documentary Centenaries’ celebrations. For the first time in its history, the BFI has made classic documentary footage available to the public to re-edit into their own short films, as part of an online competition which will see four winning films screened on Channel 4’s 3 Minute Wonder strand, and at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival.
More than three hours of historic footage from the BFI archives has been made available online free-of-charge - along with cutting-edge editing software – which filmmakers can use to make their films. The footage is taken from a selection of 1940’s and 50’s public information films.
Four winners will be selected to receive full production support to complete their film. The four winning entries will be screened on Channel 4 and at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival in November, before entering the BFI National Archive.
The only restrictions are that the films must comment on contemporary Britain, and must be three minutes long. To help you with this, the footage has been divided into seven themes:
1. The Role of Women
2. Britishness
3. Health and Nutrition
4. The Environment
5. Leisure Time
6. The Family
7. Work and Industry
Andy Glynne, director of Mosaic Films, says: "We’re looking for ideas that are smart and edgy, and that really play with and extend the possibilities afforded by the material. Your film could be a political polemic, it could be a poetic meditation, or it could be a personal response to the events and people captured in the material. You won’t be judged on the technical quality of your submission, but rather on the idea’s potential and your ability to realise it. "
Successful filmmakers will be able to add voiceover, sound from other sources, or music, or even shoot additional footage if needed; perhaps revisiting a location featured in one of the films or
shooting an interview or two. For full details, download the Application Pack here.
The four winning filmmakers will receive a director’s fee and full production support to make their films, including additional shooting if required and the services of a professional editor.
All entries must be received by 5pm on 14th September 2007
Download:
BRITAIN RECUT: Information Pack
Download:
BRITAIN RECUT: Application Form
Links
For more info on the BFI and its Documentary Centenaries season, click here:
www.bfi.org.uk/features/documentaries
For more info on Channel 4's 3 Minute Wonder strand, click here:
www.channel4.com/4producers
For more info on Mosaic Films, click here:
www.mosaicfilms.com