St Albans’ first ever Film Festival hopes to reel in the next KubrickSt Albans will be hosting its first annual film festival from 8th– 10th March 2013.
The Festival programme will feature talks, workshops, parties and a short-film competition, with thousands of pounds up for grabs. The festival is already attracting interest from around the globe. Filmmakers from as far as Australia, Singapore,
Greece & USA have submitted their work along with entries from around the UK.
The festival is currently OPEN for submissions until the end of December 2012 and Filmmakers of any age
(including children filmmakers) can enter their short film into one or more of six categories:
Main Short Film – Top quality, slick shorts.
Student Film – Made by a student of any age from 5 to 95. We will be splitting this award in 2 and giving a prize
to the best child filmmaker and one to the best over age 16 filmmaker.
Music Video – Any Music Genre accepted.
Documentary – inspiring short docs
Children’s Film – U Certificate films for family audiences. Eg: Animations!
Over 18s Films – Something for the grown-ups! Horror, Erotica, War etc..
The city’s Roman heritage has made St Albans a popular location with film-makers, directors and actors. It is
just 20mins by train from London and close to some of the most prestigious film studios in the
world: Pinewood (Superman, James Bond); Elstree (Star Wars, Indiana Jones); and also Leavesden (Harry
Potter). Tom Cruise is currently filming his new movie with Emily Blunt, All You Need is Kill, in the area, and,
as was widely reported, Cruise is so at home in St Albans he recently took his entourage with him when he
popped out for a curry at a local Indian restaurant!
St Albans’ rich film-making history goes way back. Arthur Melbourne-Cooper – the pioneer of moving pictures
– was born in the City, and the much celebrated film director Stanley Kubrick came to settle in the area, where
he created some of his most famous work. Kubrick’s manor was used as a nerve centre for his film
productions. The Shining was finished there, and Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut were started and
completed there.
Interested filmmakers can submit their work via the festival websitewww.stalbansfilmfestival.com and each
entry costs £20. Selected films will be showcased in the festival and the best film in each category will win a
cash prize of £500. There will also be a cash prize for the best performance by an actor or actress in the
festival, sponsored by Top Talent Acting Agency.
Festival Director, Leoni Kibbey, says: “I really want this festival to demonstrate how important St Albans has
been and is, in the UK film industry. It will encourage talented filmmakers in the area to make films and show
them to a live audience and will contribute to the cultural consciousness of this historic city. Both local
residents and visitors alike will get the chance to sample some exciting, original films, and we may even find
our new Kubrick! The Festival will put St Albans on the filmmaking map.”
More information regarding venues and judges will be announced in the coming weeks.
“The best thing that young filmmakers should do is to get hold of a camera and some film and
make a movie of any kind at all.” STANLEY KUBRICK