Hundreds flocked to catch the big film names of tomorrow in Thurrock’s fourth International Film Festival over the weekend.
The festival, which is rapidly gaining prominence as one of the UK’s premier short film festivals, had entries from all over the world this year, including Japan, China, Poland and Spain.
About 400 to 500 people turned out over the weekend to view the entries, and Thurrock entrants also had a win with Thames Delta band Tall Dark Friend scooping ‘Best Music Video’ for their short film entry ‘Hang with the Happiness.’
The awards ceremony went “brilliantly” according to organiser Benjamin Scarsbrook, who said: “The festival was a success as everyone who attended had positive things to say about it.”
“Film festivals aren’t full of strange films, with snooty film buffs. The short films we show are amazing and just like the films on at Vue - only shorter."
Fellow organiser Natalie Williams added: “Overall we were very happy with how it went. Some of the films we showed bring you to tears, some of them make you roar with laughter. Many major Hollywood directors started out making short films, so this is not art house, just a chance to enjoy excellent films.”
Benjamin added: “For future events we would like to see more local people in the audience so before the next festival we will be looking at how we can make the festival even more tailored to Thurrock.”
The following films are the winners of awards at the 2015 Thurrock International Film Festival, held at the Thameside Theatre.
Best International Film: Hybris - dir. Arjan Brentjes
Best Animated Film: Cuerdas - dir. Pedro Solís García
The MMBF Best Under 18 Film: Visco Fuse - dir. Max Tobin
Best Music Video: Hang With The Happiness - dir. James Kavanagh
Best Documentary Film: Barbican - dir. Joe Gilbert
Best Student Film: Don't Touch Me - dir. Edward Smith
Best Fiction Film: Bus Stop - dir. Jamie Sims
Best Performance: Shaun Dooley as 'Ben' in Cowboy Ben
Best Editor: Benjamin Cowie and Alan Cameron - Slammer
Best Director: John Grey - Maybe
Audience Choice Award: Benjamin Cowie and Alan Cameron - Slammer
Best in Festival: Hybris - dir. Arjan Brentjes
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here