Smirnoff announce Reel Talent Award

Free to enter competition has top prize of £10,000 - entry deadline April 22

by Amber Wilkinson

Music event giant The Smirnoff Experience has joined forces with collaborative art complex The Hospital to give aspiring filmmakers the chance to develop their skills and networks by producing a five-minute film.

According to the press release: "In keeping with The Hospital’s cultural and musical vision, and the musical integrity of Smirnoff Experience, each entry should have a genuine musical heartbeat. Screenplays must be clearly original in demonstrating how music shapes and inspires the story and will be judged by a selection panel including the writer and director, Asif Kapadia and musician and composer, Rob Playford."

Director Michael Winterbottom says: “This is a marvellous opportunity for new filmmakers to gain exposure and experience."

The competition is free to enter and offers three top prizes worth more than £10,000 each. The deadline for entries is April 22 and the three winning teams of writer/directors and producers will be invited to attend an intensive residential script development course run by leading filmmakers’ organization The Script Factory, before being granted a budget to produce their short films.

One-to-one mentoring by writers, directors and composers as well as use of The Hospital’s studios and other production facilities will all form part of the prize. Award winning production house Intrepido will also provide support throughout the programme.

The three short films will premiere at VIP events at The Hospital in Covent Garden and be offered international distribution agreements by Shorts International, the worldwide distribution arm of Britshorts. One winning film will also be entered into a series of prestigious international film festivals.

For further information and an entry form visit www.reeltalentaward.co.uk

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