The best British live action and animated shorts, as decided by a top jury, will screen in the UK and internationally from the end of February
London, 3 February 2016: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has today announced that audiences across the UK, and overseas, will be able to see a package of this year’s BAFTA-nominated short films and animations in cinemas from the end of February.
The nominated films, which were chosen by leading industry figures, represent the best of British short filmmaking, and showcase innovative and exciting British talent. Jury members this year included filmmaker Shane Meadows (This Is England) and actor and writer Mackenzie Crook (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Detectorists). The winners, as voted for by the wider BAFTA membership, will be announced at the EE British Academy Film Awards.
For a fourth year BAFTA is partnering with the Independent Cinema Office (ICO) to distribute the films in the UK, and the British Council, which will tour the films internationally through its global network. Last year’s programme visited over 30 UK venues and travelled to a wide variety of countries including Cuba, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Laos, South Africa, Ukraine and Mexico.
At selected screenings, audiences will be able to take part in exclusive Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. Previous BAFTA shorts nominees and winners have gone on to receive BAFTA recognition for their feature-length projects, including directors Paddy Considine (Tyrannosaur), Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths), Chris Morris (Four Lions), Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy), Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) and David Yates (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2), and producer Mark Herbert (This Is England).
Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring the BAFTA-nominated short films to wider public attention, and celebrate the achievements of the talented filmmakers. This year’s nominees include a previous BAFTA and Oscar winner, a BAFTA Scotland award-winner, and two films shot by cinematographers who are past BAFTA scholarship recipients. The range of experience amongst the nominees showcases the amazing opportunities for creativity in short films, and cements their invaluable role in the film industry.”
Catharine Des Forges, Director of the Independent Cinema Office, said: “There is a genuine appetite to see the best of short films in cinemas. The ICO’s focus is always on giving people the opportunity to discover as broad a range of films as possible, and we’re glad that each year sees more and more interest in shorts. The UK leads the way in terms of new film talent, and we see audiences respond to the chance to discover filmmakers’ processes.”
Will Massa, Senior Programme Manager for Film at British Council said: “The BAFTA Shorts programme is always so strong and has had so much success around the world that is has become an essential part of our year-round screening offer. This year’s line-up is stronger than ever and we can’t wait to see what international audiences make of the new selection.”
The UK-wide rollout of BAFTA Shorts 2016 begins with a special screening at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London on Friday 26 February, attended by some of the nominated filmmakers.
For venues and showtimes, and to watch a trailer featuring jury members Shane Meadows, Mackenzie Crook, Bola Agbaje (Gone Too Far!) and Matt Charman (Bridge of Spies), visit the BAFTA website: https://www.bafta.org/film/awards/shorts-tour-2016.
Interviews with the nominated filmmakers will be available on BAFTA Guru (www.bafta.org/guru), BAFTA’s online learning channel.
To book the BAFTA-nominated shorts for exhibition, visit the ICO website: http://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/films/baftashorts2016.
The EE British Academy Film Awards will take place on Sunday 14 February at The Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden.
The nominated shorts in the BAFTA Shorts 2016 programme:
BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
Manoman - Simon Cartwright, Kamilla Kristiane Hodol
Prologue - Richard Williams, Imogen Sutton
Edmond - Nina Gantz, Emilie Jouffroy
BRITISH SHORT FILM
Mining Poems or Odes - Callum Rice, Jack Cocker
Samuel-613 - Billy Lumby, Cheyenne Conway
Operator - Caroline Bartleet, Rebecca Morgan
Over - Jörn Threlfall, Jeremy Bannister
Note to Editors:
- BAFTA-nominated short film Elephant is not included in the screenings package due to rights issues.
- A preview press screening will take place at BAFTA at 11am on Tuesday 9 February. Booking is required.
- The BAFTA-Nominated Shorts Tour press kit is available here
For more information, please contact:
Charlotte Inett / Marie Zeraati at freuds
Tel: 020 3003 6350 / 020 3003 6418
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
For photography, visit www.bafta.org/press/images.
About BAFTA
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – featuring workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes – in the UK, USA and Asia; it offers unique access to the world’s most inspiring talent and connects with a global audience of all ages and backgrounds. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. To access the best creative minds in film, television and games production, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org
About ICO
The ICO is the national organisation for the development and support of independent film exhibition in the UK. It was established in 2003 and exists to bring a wider range of films to a wider range of audiences.
The ICO’s primary aims include promoting diversity in exhibition content, audience and location. This is achieved through providing programming advice, film distribution, exhibitor and distribution training, project consultancies and implementing audience development strategies both nationally and internationally.
The ICO works with a broad range of exhibitors including cinemas, arts venues, community venues, pop-ups and festivals. Key to its operation is the development of partnerships with a wide variety of organisations including BFI, Creative Skillset, FDA, Europa Cinemas, MEDIA, Arts Council England, Frieze, Tate, The Guardian Culture Network, Cineworld and of course BAFTA. The ICO’s internationally recognised training programmes include speakers from organisations as diverse as the Royal Opera House, Radio 4’s Front Row, the Berlinale and Warner Brothers among many others and have been delivered in a range of countries including the UK, Columbia, Croatia and Italy.
For more information and for details on BAFTA Shorts 2016 bookings, please visit http://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/films/baftashorts2016.
About British Council
The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. It is a Royal Charter charity, established as the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.
7000 staff in over 100 countries work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year through English, arts, education and society programmes.
British Council Film department links UK films and filmmakers to new international audiences, profiling the innovation, diversity and excellence of British films around the world and finding opportunities for creative exchange. As part of its programme it provides a preview service for selectors from the world's major film festivals/markets (including Toronto, Cannes, Berlin and Sundance).
For more information, please see www.britishcouncil.org/film
