Schools across the south west encouraged to join national film challenge

Calling all budding Spielbergs, aspiring Coppolas, visionary Spike Lees and passionate storytellers in and across the South West!

The Schools 48 Hour Film Challenge UK is back, calling on schools in the region to get involved and compete nationally.

Now in its fourth year and set to be held from Friday 10th May, the challenge brings together students aged 7-18 years to unleash their creativity and filmmaking skills in a thrilling 48-hour challenge.

Teams of students will have the chance to write, shoot, edit, and submit a short film in just two days, pushing their boundaries and exploring the world of filmmaking like never before.

The program provides free workshops led by industry professionals and mentoring from up-and-coming filmmakers.

Sync will be supporting students by offering valuable insights and equipping students with the technology they need to succeed.

The final short film will then be judged by a number of accomplished names in the industry, including the Founder and CEO of IMDb, the world's most popular source for movie and TV content, as well as the writer of the award-winning Mamma Mia! Catherine Johnson.

Andrew Gibbs, Regional Education Manager at Sync, commented: “We’re thrilled to be part of this initiative. This challenge offers a remarkable platform for schools across the region to showcase their students' creative talents.

It's also a fantastic opportunity to not only spotlight the abilities of students in the South West but also to nurture their interest and talent in filmmaking.”

Sync had previously worked alongside the founder of the challenge, Sarah Bramley-Dymond, in providing Apple technology to the students within her school.

Sarah Bramley Dymond, Co-ordinator for The Schools 48 Hour Film Challenge UK, added: “This challenge fosters collaboration, problem-solving, and quick creative thinking, pushing students outside their comfort zones. With surprise elements and support from industry experts too, teams are encouraged to innovate to bring their cinematic visions to life.

"Students across the South West are warmly invited. With the guidance of adult team leaders, they can explore different filmmaking techniques and create memorable experiences using just the technology provided by Sync”.

The challenge will culminate in a screening and awards ceremony, where student filmmakers showcase their creations and compete for judges' special recognition.

Prizes for Best Film, Best Performance, Best Use of Elements will be awarded by the expert judges professionals, but every student who completes the challenge will receive some form of accolade and recognition for their hard work and collaboration.

Local schools and parents interested in registering students must do so by Friday, 4th May 2024. With an entry fee of only £10 per film, the fee will be used to support youth mental health charities across the country.

Get involved today by clicking here: https://www.schools48hourfilmchallenge.co.uk/registration.