Mutant shorts in our space
A busy bank holiday weekend leaves me with little time to write any sort of original article for this culture blog, but just enough time to use my skills exchange space to promote this summer’s filmmaking event: Mutant Shorts!
Aside from the annual Cork Film Festival, Cork has been left with little else to encourage short filmmaking, be it amateur or experienced, since the Kommando 24 Hour Filmmaking Competition came to an end some years ago. Kommando was a bright idea and drew a lot of interest, reportedly receiving up to 60 entries in its final year. Mutant Shorts now hopes to gain as enthusiastic a following this June when filmmakers set to work to create a short film over the period of one week.
Numerous applicants had already applied when the original registration deadline of May 29th came round, but late entries are also being considered. Filmmakers then await notification of a film theme which is to be announced on June 15th, giving them until June 22nd to make their short. The bonus is that ALL shorts will receive a public screening with one short then being named as the overall winner of the event. Plans to take the Mutant Projects on tour around the country would also result in the shorts being screened outside of Cork but, in line with the MutantSpace way of thinking, filmmakers will have a chance to change (or mutate) their short before it is screened again. This sort of exposure is of great benefit to first-time or amateur filmmakers, who may find it difficult to gain screenings in film festivals, particularly as there is not always much room for shorts.
It is true that the likes of the Fastnet Short Film Festival have amended this somewhat, and that fact, coupled with an event such as Mutant Shorts, will hopefully have film enthusiasts picking up their cameras. Applicants for Mutant Shorts must provide their own equipment, but as MS has few boundaries, even the most basic of cams should provide, especially if coupled with some imagination and a willingness to embrace this wonderful filmmaking event. For those who don’t fancy filmmaking but are curious to see what these first Mutaters of movies have come up with, the screenings will take place in the Roundy Bar on June 24th. Exact times have yet to be announced, so keep your eye on MutantSpace for more details.
Gemma McCarthy
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