Venues
Events
MediaFeature
Rushes Soho Shorts Festival
Keeping cinemaphiles busy across the pond
| | More
Just over ten years old London’s Rushes Soho Shorts film festival is going strong this summer. The competitive festival, which promises both established filmmakers and newcomers are viewed and judged on a completely level platform, features a mix of traditional film fest standbys (Long Form, International, and New Comer awards are handed out) as well as more advertising oriented and non traditional categories (Broadcast Design and Music Video awards).
The festival kicks off on Wednesday June 22 with the London premiere of Jan Dunn’s The Calling. Dunn, a returning Soho Shorts fest favorite, wrote and directed the film, which stars Brenda Blethyn. Dunn’s script centers around Joanna. Just about to graduate from University she struggles with what her mother thinks is a “phase.” Joanna has a strong desire to become a nun. Once in a convent she is shocked by her strange fellow sisters and questions her future there.
The music video category features some very cutting edge and contemporary directors and musicians. Famed French director Michel Gondry, whose work ranges from The Science of Sleep to multiple Bjork videos and much more, offers a selection in this category. New York’s own Yeah Yeah Yeah’s new video for “Zero” is playing as well as vids from U2 and Royksopp.
Like most fests there is a host of seminars regarding everything from film funding—in the digital age a constantly discussed subject—to sound production. The London Soho Apple store is also hosting panel discussions, much like the NYC Soho Apple store does once a year with Sundance participants, to talk about the future of animation and documentary film.
To sum up what seems to be the over all feel of the festival, film enthusiasts are getting classic form features and documentaries but Soho Shorts is keeping a keen eye on new media, experimental work, and commercial/promo oriented pieces as well. Making it a great mix for people whose day jobs are in film/video so they can see what is really going on out there as well as the average festival goer.
Rushes Soho Shorts Festival takes place in London July 22–31.