It’s lights, camera, action time. We’re calling on Oxfam supporters all around the world to make a short film and enter our film competition. There’s the chance to win some camera equipment, but more importantly you’ll get loads of kudos and your film will be shown around the world. If you care about challenging poverty and you’re a budding movie maker than now is your chance to use your talent and get noticed by taking part in this prestigious competition.
What’s it all about?
Well, this year is pretty important in the fight against poverty. There’s a massive UN Summit in Spetember where leaders will be discussing the Millennium Development Goals and it’s a great chance for us to remind them of the commitments that they’ve made to tackling poverty. As Spanish President, and current EU President, Zapatero said, “the objective of the international community must continue to be the eradication of hunger and poverty”.
So, Oxfam Intermon (that’s Oxfam Spain) have teamed up with ACTUA to invite contestants from arond the world to make a short film on the theme of poverty. In a world where nearly one billion people live on less than 1 dollar a day, and women make account for over three quarters of these people; we think that this is a massively important area that filmmakers need to address.
How does it work?
This competition is open to anyone. For more information about the rules have a look on the website. But the closing date is 31st April and it’s up to you to decide what your film is about. There will be a jury of people to deicide the winner, past jury members include José Antonio Bayona (filmmaker) Eduardo Noriega (actor), Eduardo Chapero Jackson (awarded the Golden Lion for Best European Short film in Venice 2007 for “Alumbramiento”) and loads of other film maker types.
There’s already been entries from Australia, Germany and Belgium, and with the winning films being screened across the world, from Madrid to Addis Abeba to Lima, it promises to be a truly global event. The films that reach the final will be screened simultaneously in nearly 30 cities throughout Spain, and audiences will have the chance to vote for the Audience Award, awarded at a ceremony in Madrid on June 12.
So, if you fancy yourself as a film maker and if you’ve got something to say about poverty then get your camera, get filming and good luck!
Find out more about the film festival.