TCM Classic Shorts competition

This year’s final sees an all time first for the competition which has, in the past, been exclusively open to British films and film makers as the competition opened its doors to welcome short film entries from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Entries from Swedish and German emerging film makers are among the six short listed films for the eighth annual TCM Classic Shorts competition. Hotly contested yet again, the panel of expert judges have been given plenty of food for thought as they’ve struggled to decide upon an outright winner.  As everyone knows, making your name in the film industry can be a difficult and arduous task and that’s why TCM is dedicated to supporting the talent of tomorrow by providing this competition as a potential launch-pad to showcase some of the most exciting new work being created.

Famous faces lend a hand

As well as harnessing the expertise of established film makers to judge the short film entries, it is always gratifying to see how many professional actors and actresses devote their time to supporting short film making by agreeing to be part of the cast and crew.  Gael Garcia Bernal, Imelda Staunton, Kris Marshall, Ashley Walters, Greta Scacchi plus Noel Fielding and Julian Barrett from The Mighty Boosh are just some of the recognisable names that have appeared in TCM Classic Shorts finalists’ films.  High profile producers in the past have included Trudie Styler and this year sees DJ and TV presenter Zoe Ball displaying her skills as producer of The Amazing Trousers.

This year is no exception, Paul McGann and Richard E Grant revive one of the best-loved screen partnerships, which saw them become cult heroes in Withnail and I, to appear in a film together for the first time in 20 years. Always Crashing in the Same Car sees them playing Machiavellian characters in a tale of political intrigue and intense rivalry.  Kris Marshall, who appeared in the first ever winning entry to TCM Classic Shorts, is cast alongside Alice Eve and David Bamber in dark Gothic horror spoof, The Amazing Trousers. Stephane Cornicord, whose credits include Saving Private Ryan also stars in a quirky story about a French farmer and his unsuccessful attempts to unearth the forest’s truffle treasure in A Bout de Truffe.

The Award Ceremony

On 31st October, the finalists, their casts and crew joined an audience of key opinion formers, journalists and film industry experts to witness their films enjoying a screening at BFI Southbank, London.

The ceremony took place as part of The Times BFI London Film Festival and this year, the film makers who donated their time to help find the new talent of tomorrow included: Kevin Macdonald, Simon Pegg, Cillian Murphy, Stephen Woolley plus up-and-coming director Paul Andrew Williams.  The Paul McGann, the star of Always Crashing in the Same Car attended the ceremony along with his co-star Susanna Harker and their producer, Zoe Bell.  Kris Marshall, who starred in The Amazing Trousers, also came along to give his support.

This is what our judges had to say about TCM Classic Shorts competition entries:

Kevin Macdonald
In general I was very impressed with the professional quality of the films - and the skill with which they were made. However I found them to be surprisingly grim in their choice of subject matter!

Cillian Murphy
It’s brilliant to be involved in again in a competition focussed on young actors, directors and writers.

Paul Andrew Williams
A great competition for the very best short films. All of these shorts were excellent.

Simon Pegg
Short films are not simply a springboard for feature film makers, they are an art form in themselves.  Each of these finalists display a real grasp of compact and thoughtful storytelling.

Nev Pierce
It takes incredible skill to make a satisfying short – to lay out compelling characters and situations and create a gripping story in so little time. From Cronenberg to Lynch to Fincher, some of our most talented, visionary directors first honed their skills making short-form films, so it’s great to see TCM supporting the medium and encouraging new talent.

Past judges

TCM has attracted some of the biggest names in British film to support the competition since its inception in 2000.  Ewan McGregor, Dame Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Pierce Brosnan, Jude Law, Hugh Grant and Imelda Staunton are among the actors to have sat on the judging panel.  The directors have included: Stephen Frears, Gurinda Chadha, Alan Parker, Bernardo Bertolucci, David Puttnam, Anthony Minghella, Ismail Merchant and Terry Gilliam.  Later this month on TCM, you can have the chance to see an exclusive interview with one of last year’s judges, Terry Gilliam as he talks about his life, work and how he has always fought to make the sort of movies for which he has become famous.  He discusses his ‘muse’ Johnny Depp, his time as the only non-British member of Monty Python’s Flying Circus and he shares some fascinating anecdotes about some of Hollywood’s finest. 

An OFF SET interview with Terry Gilliam premieres on 24th November at 8pm

This year’s final six films are shown on TCM on 3rd and 4th November from 11pm.

First Prize – A Bout de Truffe
2007, 14 mins.
D: Tom Tagholm, P: Tom Tagholm
This is a tale of one man and his pig.  Jean Dubois and Carinne, his unsuccessful truffle snuffling companion, continually fail to unearth the lucrative forest treasure.  When the debt collectors come knocking it is time for Jean to take drastic action.  But the Gods are looking on and although he finds the answer to his prayers, his relationship with his pig is on the rocks.

Second Prize – Always Crashing in the Same Car
2007, 12 mins.
D: Duncan Wellaway, P: Zoe Ball
This dark, political tale demonstrates the intense power struggle between two influential men who despise one another both personally and professionally.   The delicate balance of power is irrevocably altered when one of the men allows his emotions to get the better of him, with dramatic and disastrous consequences and the relationship changes forever.

Third Prize – Perfect to Begin
2007, 19 mins.
D: Richard Lawson, P:  Tina Gharavi
Mini-cab driver, Nav, is desperate to impress his new girlfriend, Lisa, so he steals a caravan and whisks her off on holiday reluctantly agreeing that her young daughter, Molly, can come along.  Nav and Lisa have very different ideas about the part Molly should play in their holiday.  When Nav slips the girl a ten pound note to make herself scarce he has no idea of the consequences.

Runner Up – Cocoon
2007, 11 mins., 35 seconds
D: Hana Tsutsumi, P: Daniel Silter
A toddler is trapped in her home with her dead mother.  As the weeks go by no other dwellers in the apartment block have realised that there might be a serious problem with one of their neighbours.  Only Nick, the postman, acts after becoming suspicious when he finds the letters he has delivered have been posted back through the letter box.

Runner Up – The Amazing Trousers
2007, 12 mins.
D: William F. Clark, P: Andy Kemble
Can an exquisitely tailored pair of trousers really change a man’s life?  In this comic, gothic tale set in Edwardian England, this is the very offer presented to Henry when he stumbles into a mysterious tailor shop to escape the rain.  The eerie wheelchair-bound tailor and his mesmerisingly beautiful assistant claim that the garment will bring success and wealth, but will they?

Past TCM Classic Shorts successes

Silence is Golden – directed by Chris Shepherd
AFI Fest winner and St Louis International Film Festival Winner

The Banker – directed by Hattie Dalton
BAFTA Best Short winner [2005]

Nits – directed by Harry Wootliff
BAFTA Best Short nominee [2004]

Between Us - directed by Charlotte Christensen and Stefan Mork
Special Jury Award winner, Huesca Film Festival [2005]

Call Register – directed by Ed Roe
BAFTA Best Short nominee [2006]

Funeral Etiquette – directed by Martin Romanella
Talent Movie of the Week winner, Berlin International Film Festival [2004]

The Most Beautiful Man in the World – directed by Alicia Duffy
Golden Palm nominee at Cannes Film Festival [2003]; Certificate of Merit winner at Chicago International Film Festival [2003], Hamburg Short Film Award winner, Hamburg International Short Film Festival [2003]

The Bypass – directed by Amit Kumar
Staff Award winner, Milan Film Festival [2004]

Brown Paper Bag - directed by Michael Baig Clifford
BAFTA Best Short winner [2003]

About A Girl - directed by Brian Percival
BAFTA Best Short [2002] winner; Best British Short, Edinburgh International Film Festiva. [2001]; Jury Award, Manchester International Short Film Festival [2001]; Jury Prize, Raindance Film Festival [2001]

Je T'Aime John Wayne - directed by Toby MacDonald
BAFTA Best Short nominee [2001]