Budding young film-makers around the country are being invited to enter a BFI-run competition to make a short film that showcases the vibrancy and energy of London.
The competition, called London in Motion, sees the BFI partner with the Mayor of London as part of the Story of London campaign – an exciting month of events that celebrates the history and identity of our wonderful capital city.
Aspiring young film-makers from all around Britain, aged between 11 and 18 years, are invited to submit a short film (under three minutes) depicting London as a vibrant city in perpetual movement; a film that captures the sights, sounds and spirit of London.
The film could take inspiration from any of London’s sights – tubes, trains, shoppers, skaters, bikers, drivers, hoppers, joggers, jumpers, dancers, jugglers – anything that shows the pace, vitality and character of an extraordinary city on the move.
The films will be judged by a celebrity panel including Sally Greene, OBE, Ronnie Scott’s jazz club proprietor and Chief Executive of London’s Old Vic Theatre; and young actor/writer Daniel Kaluuya (Kenneth and episode writer in E4 teen drama Skins, and Barclay in the Easter Doctor Who special Planet of the Dead). Other celebrities will be confirmed closer to the time.
The awards ceremony will take place during the BFI Jazz and Film Weekender (see Notes to Editors for more information), and will be hosted by Iyare Igiehon, popular breakfast DJ with BBC black music digital radio station, 1Xtra.
The winning film will have a fantastic opportunity to have a new soundtrack scored and recorded by Ronnie Scott’s Artistic Director, James Pearson. This soundtrack will be performed live by the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Band at the BFI Jazz and Film Weekender, accompanying a showing of the winning film. This film will also receive BFI support to enter into short film and young people’s film festivals, and a copy of the film will also be placed for posterity in the BFI National Archive, joining hundreds of thousands of other titles that make up Britain’s rich screen heritage.
The top five competition winners will have their films shown during the BFI Jazz and Film Weekender. These films will also feature on digital screens across London and will have stills from their film on display at City Hall – all supported by the Mayor of London.