This year I was honoured to join the Filminute festival jury for its 10th anniversary edition, eight years on since I first judged the festival in 2007.
Filminute is the international one-minute film festival that challenges creatives of all disciplines and persuasions to develop the best one-minute films.
As jurors, we were asked to evaluate the one-minute films with the same discipline and criteria by which we might evaluate a full-length feature film, animation or documentary. Keeping in mind, of course, that the best films resonate and affect audiences beyond and irrespective of when the closing credits appear.
The challenge for those who entered was to achieve this in 60 seconds. No more, no less. As someone who appreciates a well-polished elevator pitch, the highlight for me was the knock-out content. For those who don’t believe it’s possible to pack a punch in just 60 seconds, I suggest you check out the Best Filminute winner, ‘A minute of silence.’
The short length of these films also means they’re extremely accessible. A lot can happen in one minute, and I’m not just talking about a plot. In one minute, you can engage, inspire, trigger a thought, spark an emotion.
Check out the Filminute 2015 shortlist here. My winners were:
- 1-0 (Iran): I love a good football story wherever in the world it comes from, especially when it’s about a young boy in love with the game.
- Wojtek (Poland): Inspirational story about make-do materials in the service of human delight.
- A Minute of Silence (France): Bergmanesque family psychodrama, performed in sign language, led by two wonderful child actors. Packs a wallop!
- Nanny (Martinique): Beautifully acted and filmed folkloric tale, packs an almost unbearable level of intensity into its brief running time.
- Force (UK): Great use of location and special effects with a superb payoff. Whiteman and Gomez should be directing Marvel comic movies.
- The Whale (Germany): Not seeing but looking. Beautifully illustrated and animated. A fable for contemporary times.
- The Lunch (Chile): The ultimate in mock death scenes. Choking on arugula!
