Film London opens online voting for Best of Borough Awards,
boosting the careers of the capital’s emerging film-makers
www.filmlondon.org.uk/BoBs
Film London, with support from the Mayor of London and the UK Film Council, today launched the 2010 Best of Borough Film Awards (aka the BoBs) which will take place at BAFTA on Monday 12 July. The BoBs is an annual prize to find the best short films produced through the London Borough Film Fund Challenge (LBFFC), a scheme which aims to discover London’s film-making talent of tomorrow. The public can now view the 16 shortlisted films online and vote for their favorite film: www.filmlondon.org.uk/BoBs. Voting closes on Wednesday 30 June with one lucky voter picked at random to receive two tickets to the award ceremony plus a bottle of champagne.
Two cash prizes, of £2,000 each, will be presented to emerging film-makers from across the capital for the Audience Award and the Jury Award. The Audience Award will be presented to the film which receives the highest number of online votes and the Jury Award will be given to the film selected by a panel of representatives from the film industry, including Philip Ilson (Director of London Short Film Festival), Larushka Ivan-Zadeh (Metro film critic), Joe Bateman (Director of Rushes Soho Shorts) and Katie Metcalfe (Acquisitions Manager, Shorts International). The overall winner of Film ‘London’ in 90 Seconds, a new element to the LBFFC this year, will also be announced at the event.
Film London’s LBFFC is a short film-making scheme open to all residents of the participating boroughs. Working in partnership with the capital’s local authorities the aim of the LBFFC is to discover grassroots talent, stimulate local film-making and develop new skills. 23 of the 33 London boroughs took part in 2009, up from 15 boroughs in 2008, following a pledge from the Mayor of London that this unique and successful film fund would increase its reach.
The LBFFC delivers an enormous opportunity to some of the capital’s most disadvantaged communities and the shortlisted films cover a huge range of issues, subject matter and style, reflecting the richness and diversity of London’s society. 16 boroughs offered the full film-making fund, allowing would be film-makers to apply for funds of up to £4000. A further seven boroughs offered their residents the Film ‘London’ in 90 Seconds competition – a new initiative giving more London boroughs the tools and resources to deliver a film-making competition.
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London said: “The BoBs 2010 shortlist has a wealth of really strong films and, as ever, it is very encouraging as the films confirm our city is home to some fantastic emerging film-making talent. The LBFFC is run in partnership with the London boroughs which allows each local authority to reach their own residents giving us the chance to inspire those who may not have previously engaged with film or film-making. It is one of UK’s biggest and best short film-making schemes and the resulting films have been screened and picked up prizes at festivals all over the world. We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support from the Mayor, the London Development Agency and the UK Film Council, without whom, this scheme would not be possible.”
Since launching in 2006 the LBFFC has funded over 140 short films producing work which has been selected for international festivals and won numerous and prestigious awards. This includes screening in official competition in Cannes, winning Best Short at the Berlin Film Festival and nominations for the British Independent Film Awards, to name but a few. Many of the film-makers have gone on to make more ambitious projects, found work in the production industry or continued their training at some of the world’s best film schools.
The shortlist for the 2010 BoBs are:
Article #38 – Barking & Dagenham
His daughter taken by an anonymous woman from his violent past. The ransom - the childhood that was stolen from her. Time is running out.
Assessment – Southwark
Teenage exams are tough: at ballet school and at the local comprehensive.
Blind Man's Bluff – Bexley
Dustman Connor bites off more than he can chew when he pretends to be a blind man's dog.
Buriganga – Lewisham
Five lives coalesce around the Buriganga River in Bangladesh. With fire-breathers, a floating hotel and a beautiful political exile, the film captures the rhythms of this incredible waterway.
By Hook – Hackney
At the very edge of the Ocean, a lonely fishmonger learns that he must take the bait to be with the one he loves.
Disgraced – Redbridge
When a young Muslim girl's borrowed mobile rings in front of her dad, it triggers a tragic chain of events.
Elsewhere – Kensington & Chelsea
Two lovers on the run in the wilds of London's outer edges. A story of love, destruction and the act of letting go.
The Ghost of Morris Horn – Westminster
Live action, handpainted animation and documentary combine bring to life a story of courage and heroism in a small Greek village during WW2.
The Holiday – Waltham Forest
Banter around the Burger Van is always animated - especially with Ken griping to his mates about his nagging wife and kids. But Ken's home isn't your typical family abode...
North Atlantic – Camden
Golf Tango Tango here...is there anyone out there?
Physical Education – Newham
15 year old Casey has her eyes firmly focused on reaching the 2012 Olympics. However she is constantly bullied for thinking she is something special.
Short Lease – Enfield
A ghost story.
The Tunnel – Lambeth
'If you could play there, you could play anywhere.' (Harry Enfield). The story of British comedy's best-kept secret, The Tunnel Club.
Under the Influence with Stephen Mensah – Wandsworth
The story of Stephen Mensah, rap artist who turned his life around from heading towards a life of crime to theology and the church
We Are What We Drink – Haringey
A man stands in line for his morning coffee blissfully unaware at how life defining his encounter with the slack-jawed, gum chewing barista will actually be.
Young Blood – Tower Hamlets
A young man and a local boy are brought together through a silver pocketwatch.
View and cast your vote at www.filmlondon.org.uk/BoBs. Voting closes at Midnight on Wednesday 30 June.
