Short Com looking for comedy film submissions

Short Com

Short Com, the UK-based not-for-profit organisation which organises a programme of short comedy film screenings around the country, is looking for new submissions.

The organisers say they are looking to "screen the funniest and most charming comedy short films by emerging independent comedy filmmaking talent."

Last year Short Com showcased films in Edinburgh, London and Bristol and hosted its awards event as part of the Glasgow Short Film Festival. Presented by Still Game's Greg Hemphill, the ceremony gave prizes to comedy animation team Tea&Cheese for their 'epic pilot' Isaac And Quincy (Filmmakers' Select Award) and Ben Mallaby, whose comedy dark film Milk, starring and written by comedians Paul F Taylor and Toby Williams, took the Jury Panel Award.

The stop motion film Once Upon A Time In The Shed by Barnaby Dixon won the hearts of the audience, scooping the Audience Select Award as well as the Best Animation award, pocketing £300 in prize money. Meanwhile Joe Nicolosi won the Best International Award for Hell No.

Short Com plans to revisit Edinburgh, London, Bristol and Glasgow again over the next 12 months, plus possibly some additional cities too. In keeping up with its charitable aims, Short Com managed to raise over £700 for the charities CALM and SAMH in 2014, and confirms it will be looking to raise more over this forthcoming year. The first confirmed screenings are at the Cameo Cinema in Edinburgh on the 10th and 11th of August 2015 as part of the city's major arts festival.

Short Com will also be holding its awards ceremony again, at a new location in early 2016. The categories, sponsored by Blackmagic Design who will supply camera and software as prizes, are: Audience Select; Jury Panel Select; Filmmakers Select; Best International and Best Animation.

Short Com is looking for films no longer than 20 minutes, but point out "usually the shorter the film the better. Our audiences are used to shorter films and it would have to be something exceptional to keep an audiences' attention if a long short."

The deadline to be considered for inclusion in the Edinburgh Programme is the 30th July 2015. The final end of year deadline is the 31st December 2015.

Creative Director Chris Aitken says: "The aims and goals of Short Com still remain in finding and championing new comedy filmmaking talent by putting content first ahead of production values or star names to as many live audiences possible. The quality of the programme has always been paramount to Short Com, thus reaching and being part of the best of programme should be seen as a real badge of honour."

To find out more about Short Com, read the full rules and guidelines, and to obtain the entry form, visit www.shortcom.co.uk

Published: Thursday 16th April 2015
BCG Pro logo

This article is provided for free as part of BCG Pro.

Subscribe now for exclusive features, insight, learning materials, opportunities and other tools for the British comedy industry.