AS the dust settles on the Oscars - and all the drama therein - Colchester filmmakers’ attention now turns to this year’s Colchester Independent Short Film Festival.

The festival may not have quiet the explosive action of its American counterpart but it have plenty of entertainment.

It will feature a wide range of films and productions about local issues, such as people’s struggles with disabilities, the challenges of coping with Covid and dealing with troubled relationships.

The festival will be held at the Curzon cinema in Colchester on May 14 and there is still time for people to submit their entries, providing they are ten minutes maximum in length.

The competition is open to filmmakers of all ages, with any level of experience and no subjects are off limits.

Nick Pelas, who organised the competition, said although he welcomes film entries from anywhere, he is pleased to have received a number of interesting and imaginative local movies already.

“We want to encourage filmmakers to keep on experimenting.

“There is a wealth of talent working in the region, so this competition aims to encourage them to keep being creative and coming up with new ideas.

 

Nick Pelas, who organised the competition, said that although he welcomes film entries from anywhere, he is pleased to have received a number of interesting and imaginative local movies already

Nick Pelas, who organised the competition, said that although he welcomes film entries from anywhere, he is pleased to have received a number of interesting and imaginative local movies already

 

“We have awards on offer too, but even if people do not win them, their films will be shown on a big screen at the Curzon in front of an audience.

“We hope this will be enough motivation for them to keep on making quality films.”

Nick has spent years working in the theatre and making his own short films.

This experience has included directing fringe theatre shows in London since 2008.

 

Nick Pelas, who organised the competition, said that although he welcomes film entries from anywhere, he is pleased to have received a number of interesting and imaginative local movies already

Nick Pelas, who organised the competition, said that although he welcomes film entries from anywhere, he is pleased to have received a number of interesting and imaginative local movies already

 

He is also planning on creating a short film soon about Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, which is based on one of the stage plays he has written.

Over the years, he has been amazed by how easy it is to make short films these days with just a phone and without the need for people to carry heavy camera equipment with them to locations.

Plus, the editing software is much more affordable and accessible now too.

So he decided to set-up this film festival to provide an opportunity for people to experiment with imaginative techniques to showcase their great work.

 

Nick Pelas, who organised the competition, said that although he welcomes film entries from anywhere, he is pleased to have received a number of interesting and imaginative local movies already

Nick Pelas, who organised the competition, said that although he welcomes film entries from anywhere, he is pleased to have received a number of interesting and imaginative local movies already

 

“Of course, there are already some great film competitions out there in London and other places, but people’s films sometimes just disappear into a blackhole at these events,” added Nick.

“In this festival, there is more of chance for them to shine.

Some of the entries we’ve received so far are very original.

For example, we’ve received an entry from a well-known local poet talking about living with autism.

“We’ve also accepted other productions that focus on challenging issues, such as the difficulties faced by our local LGBT+ community and people’s perspectives on euthanasia.

“Additionally, we’ve been sent some that are filmed in a documentary style.

“Many are very creative and are made entirely out of animation.

“I’m very impressed with the range and skills demonstrated in the making of these films.

“People have sent some entries as far as Mexico, but we still want to encourage as many as we can from Colchester and the surrounding area.

“It can be in any format, even if it’s just a monologue or a pop video. The more diverse and unusual the better.”

 

Nick Pelas, who organised the competition, said that although he welcomes film entries from anywhere, he is pleased to have received a number of interesting and imaginative local movies already

Nick Pelas, who organised the competition, said that although he welcomes film entries from anywhere, he is pleased to have received a number of interesting and imaginative local movies already

 

Nick is pleased that some of the local institutions which teach film have already encouraged their students to submit entries, such as the University of Essex, which offers a BA in Film Studies.

“Even though the students of the Film Studies degree have submitted some entries, we would still like to hear from people who are experimenting with film for the first time.

“We mainly want to encourage people with a passion for productions to use this platform as a chance to express themselves through the medium of movie-making, which is very satisfying.”

During the event, Nick will talk about each movie and the filmmakers who created them.

After the screenings, all of the filmmakers will be invited to network with other artists, which could lead to new opportunities in the future.

The winners will be chosen by six judges, including actress Verona Joseph, who is famous for starring in Strictly Come Dancing and Holby City.

Nick has worked with her for many years on the plays he has written during that time.

Colchester’s deputy mayor Tim Young will be a judge again this year, having enjoyed being involved last year.

He said: “It was a really enjoyable experience to be asked to be a judge at last year’s inaugural Colchester Indie Short Film Festival.

“The quality of the entries was variable, but some of them were exceptionally good.

“Nick deserves enormous credit for bringing the festival to Colchester and I hope it goes from strength to strength.”

Having the event at the Curzon will add some glitz to the occasion, but ultimately, Nick hopes it will boost the profile of filmmaking in Colchester and the area.

“Although so many things happen online now – people can make a whole series on YouTube, for example - festivals are still important for providing accreditation for good productions that have been appreciated in public.

“We hope this one will inspire the filmmakers to support each other, so we can increase opportunities for the local talent by us all working together more closely.”

The deadline for entries is April 29, and the event itself will take place at 7.15pm at the Curzon Colchester.

To find out more about how you can enter, and to listen to Nick talking about the competition more on Colne Radio’s Movie Makers shows visit: screeninnovation/moviemakers.

You can also contact Nick direct via email at npelas@gmail.com, or call him on 07754398113.