First Ever Small Screen, Big Film Festival Now Open For Submissions

The British Council has opened submissions for its first ever Small Screen, Big Film festival, a new short film festival for young and aspiring filmmakers in the region. Budding directors and anyone with a smartphone are encouraged to create a three-minute film using their device and enter for a chance to have their work shown and promoted during the online festival in March 2018. Four winning entrants will be given a chance to receive expert tuition from some of the UK’s most talented industry representatives.

GCC residents and Gulf nationals living in the United Kingdom can submit their work via www.britishcouncil.com.kw/enuntil Wednesday, 31 January 2018. Entrants must be aged 25 or under, and can send enquiries to smallscreenbigfilm@britishcouncil.org. To help filmmakers develop their entry, the British Council has partnered with IntoFilm, a British film-based educational charity, to create a step-by-step smartphone film guide, available for download now from the festival website.

A jury of renowned GCC and UK filmmakers will shortlist 20 films to be screened to a global audience during the online festival from 15-25 March 2018. Jury members already confirmed to share their expertise include Emirati Director, Abdulla Al Kaabi, best known for his recent critically acclaimed film Only Men Go To The Grave (2017). Academy award and four time BAFTA award winning British filmmaker, Asif Kapadia, whose documentaries Amy (2015) and Senna (2010) won him high praise, and English actress and writer, Amy Lowe, will also be amongst the jury.