Winner & Finalists Announced for the Aesthetica Short Film Competition 2010

Today after much heartfelt deliberation the winner, runner-up and finalists for the Aesthetica Short Film Competition 2010 are announced.

The competition is an exciting initiative, which supports short filmmakers and brings their work to a wider audience. We were (and are) looking for filmmakers who are driving the genre forward. Just like our editorial in the magazine, we are looking for filmmakers and artists who are engaging with cinema in new and exciting ways.

For me a good short is concise, capturing the moment within the first few opening frames. As a viewer, the sensation tearing up inside of me is a desperate urge to know what’s going to happen next. Creating that feeling, makes for good cinema.

With just under 1000 films submitted from over 34 countries, the shortlist consists of 13 filmmakers from 7 countries including the UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Canada, United States and Australia. Films were submitted from the following genres: drama, documentary, music video, satire, comedy and artists' film.

There were so many excellent films submitted. I know that everyone always says that, but it’s true. The work was outstanding and it was a privilege to be able to watch so much innovative cinema. There were at least 100 films that I wanted to include on this DVD, but alas there are only 2 hours to a DVD. To be honest with you, choosing the final 13 was beyond tough and it became a rather tense moment in my life. I was living, eating and breathing short films. But I loved every minute of it, and I am genuinely looking forward to the re-opening of the competition.

I shouldn’t say anything, particularly on this blog, but after receiving such high calibre work, I’d like to put on the International Aesthetica Short Film Festival. There I’ve said it, but at this point, all I can say is watch this space.

This year’s prize sees the winner and finalists’ films screened at a number of festivals across the UK and Ireland, as well as included on a DVD, which will be distributed to Aesthetica’s readers internationally in December 2010. We’ll keep you updated on Facebook and Twitter.

We are looking who are driving the genre of short film forward through inspirational and innovative works, so if this is you, please get in touch for 2011’s competition.

This year’s Winner & Finalists

•Carol Salter –Unearthing the Pen
•Jared Varava –The Shadow Effect
•Shaun Hughes –Mother
•Tatiana Margaux Bonhomme-Un Certain Dimanche (That Sunday)
•Eduardo Moises Escribano Solera (producer) -Quiero estar el resto de mi vida contigo (I Want to Spend the Rest of my Life with You)
•Matt Hammill / Guru Studio –HAZED
•Remi Weekes –Exhale
•Timothy Melville –The Laundromat
•Tom Canning –Foto
•Guy Ducker –Missed
•Tom Werber –Losers: Flush
•Oonagh Kearney –Her Mother’s Daughters
•Daniel Wirtberg –Love Child