With short films performing well at both the Oscars and BAFTA’s some readers out there will be very excited to hear that next week sees a tour (to select UK cinemas) of BAFTA nominated films begin.
For a third year, BAFTA is partnering with distributor the Independent Cinema Office (ICO), which is handling all UK theatrical bookings, and with the British Council, which will tour the films internationally through their network of offices in 110 countries.
Selected screenings of the films – which were nominated in the British Short Film and British Short Animation categories – will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers, who this year include several beneficiaries of BAFTA new talent initiatives, such as: BAFTA Scholarship recipient Daisy Jacobs, who was also nominated for an Oscar for the breath-taking THE BIGGER PICTURE.
Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said:
“We are delighted to be bringing the work of exciting British filmmaking talent to a wider audience, and giving the shorts theatrical exposure beyond a film festival environment. The BAFTA-nominated shorts represent the best in live action and animated short-filmmaking, and it’s particularly gratifying to see individuals who BAFTA has recognised and supported early in their careers progress to our flagship Film Awards ceremony in just a few short years.”
Lisa Bryer, BAFTA-winning producer and Chair of the British Short Film jury, said:
“This year’s BAFTA-nominated shorts reflect the huge diversity and strength of film production across the UK, with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland all represented. In addition to the nominated talent behind the camera, there are also some wonderful onscreen performances from relative newcomers and well-known faces, including actors from popular British shows such as Broadchurch.”
Catharine Des Forges, Director of the Independent Cinema Office, said:
“Independent cinemas and their audiences are always keen to see work made by British rising talent, and we always have strong interest from exhibitors across the UK interested in screening this programme. Short films are not just a great way for talent to emerge, but an amazing form in their own right and we’re really happy to share these BAFTA-nominated (and in two cases also Oscar-nominated) films in their natural home: the cinema.”
Will Massa, Senior Programme Manager for Film at British Council said:
“We’re delighted to be partnering with BAFTA for a third year on an international tour of the nominated shorts. They give us the opportunity to showcase the UK’s most exciting emerging filmmakers to new audiences around the world, and the package has become a firm fixture in our annual activity.”
The UK-wide rollout of BAFTA Shorts 2015 begins with a special screening at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London on Friday 6 March, attended by some of the filmmakers. Other confirmed venues include Broadway in Nottingham, Filmhouse in Edinburgh, and Queen’s Film Theatre (QFT) in Belfast.
For more information about the nominated short films and animations, including venues and show times, visit the BAFTA website: http://bit.ly/BAFTASHORTS.
To book the films for exhibition, visit the ICO website: http://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/films/baftashorts2015
Source: BAFTA
