Cannes in a Van » The Van d’Or Awards 2012

At last… ‘Roger’ is now online!

admin — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 13:53:11 +0000

As if by magic, as our 2013 Van d’Or Awards come into view, one of the real gems from last year is finally available online! Roger The Real-life Superhero, directed by Cathy MacDonald is a simply brilliant documentary about one simply brilliant human-being. Winner of Best Documentary at the 2012 Van d’Or Independent Film Awards, the film follows nineteen-year-old Roger Hayhurst who lives on an estate in Salford, Manchester. With the unwavering support of his mum Jennifer, Roger dresses in a spandex [...]

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This Is Colin (dir. Perrie Murphy)

admin — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 22:37:39 +0000

Nominated for Best Comedy and Best Animation at The Van d’Or Awards 2012, This Is Colin is a dark and funny film about a man who very suddenly realises that he hated everything in his life and everything that he knew, including his pet goldfish Vivian. He sets out on a path of destruction, finally stumbling upon something that changes his life for the better. This is Colin contains some strong language and cartoon nudity.

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Trunks (dir. David Hewitt)

admin — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 22:14:33 +0000

The winner of Best Screenplay at the 2012 Van d’Or Awards is this interesting dialogue driven visual oasis. With a unique approach to short film narrative through a mix of time-shift, underwater photography and suggestion, Trunks comes up with something new. It was selected for countless film festivals in the UK and abroad as well as being nominated in the Best Drama, Best Cinematography and overall Best Film categories at the Van d’Ors.

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Rouw (Mourn) (dir. Nils Gerbens)

admin — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 21:47:27 +0000

This short from The Netherlands won the Best Comedy award at the Van d’Ors in 2012. It’s notable for its use of visual comedy, clearly showing influence from silent comedy films of the 1920s. Director Nils Gerbens created the dark comedy for a 48 hour film project. Its first screening was at the Dutch Film Festival in Utrecht.

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Taking Life (dir. Steve Reeves)

admin — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 09:15:32 +0000

This is the winning film in the 2012 Van d’Or Awards Best Director category. Director Steve Reeves‘ gripping short Taking Life is a taster of what we can expect from his recently completed feature Keeping Rosy starring the brilliant actress Maxine Peake. It’s a perfectly crafted short film, but is more than that – it was made as a vehicle to secure funding for a feature which expands the story. Due to the success of the film at various awards [...]

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ONE TO WATCH: Mum Says(dir. John Brown)

admin — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 23:52:52 +0000

This is the one that got away, but perhaps it makes the film stronger for it. Mum Says is an intense drama about a young boy who lives in a fractured middle class family environment. He is coming to terms with his parents and who they really are. Brilliantly directed by John Brown, the film surprisingly walked away empty-handed at the 2012 Van d’Or Independent Film Awards. Though unsuccessful in securing a gold-van-statuette (who wouldn’t want one), the film has picked [...]

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(dir. John Brown) appeared first on Cannes in a Van.

Retro look: 2012 Interview with Rob Wray, Shortwave Cinema

admin — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:50:21 +0000

Shortwave Cinema in Bermondsey is one of London’s few completely independent picture houses. It’s founder Rob Wray fought tooth and nail to keep it that way after 8 years of battling to make the cinema a reality. He started out in the 90s running Shortwave Films, projecting movies guerrilla-style in unusual locations around London, turning underground film screenings into all-night parties, long before Secret Cinema tapped into the online crowd and turned it into a commercial enterprise. We were proud [...]

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Address is Approximate (dir. Tom Jenkins)

admin — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 23:27:44 +0000

The Winner of the Best Music-based Film Award at The Van d’Ors 2012, this incredible, strangely moving film is a Google Street View stop motion animation which began as a personal project by director Tom Jenkins. The film was a viral hit together with another short ‘Speed of Light’ and now Tom and his directing partner Simon Sharp are embarking on a feature for Sony Pictures! Well done guys!

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The Future Forms of Life (dir. David Lance)

admin — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 17:29:01 +0000

This intriguing animation was nominated for best Motion Design at The Van d’Or Awards 2012. Some seriously good motion skills on show here. We look forward to screening more of David’s work at our regular night Screen Social in the future.

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Fubar Redux (dir. Hasraf Dulull)

admin — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 17:23:15 +0000

A truly unique short film, Fubar Redux is ‘an Epic Short Film portraying the atrocities of an on-going political war for territories. Told in an alternate reality with Cats and Dogs mixing exciting action with tense drama driven by a unique animation visual style – Hyper-Motion Comic Cinema.’ The film was nominated at The Van d’Or Awards 2012 for Best Motion Design. Director Hasraf Dulull worked on the project relentlessly to bring his vision to reality. A rough-cut was screened [...]

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Walk Tall (dir. Kate Sullivan)

admin — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 11:33:36 +0000

This quirky documentary (directed by Kate Sullivan) was nominated for Best Documentary and Best Director at The Van d’Or Awards 2012 and has already picked up awards and fans across the UK. It’s a portrait of 1948 Olympic gymnast George Weedon. The synopsis goes… ‘No sponsorship, one kidney, tuberculosis, a broken back… All set for the London Olympics… 1948.’ We thoroughly recommend a watch and when you like it… pass it on. The guy is a legend. http://www.walktallfilm.com

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Interview: Jerry Deeney, Fujifilm Shorts

admin — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:26:25 +0000

Jerry Deeney is one of the judges for The Van d’Or Independent Film Awards. His role as Marketing Manager of Fujifilm Shorts gives him an insight into what’s happening in the indie film world. Here he talks about what role festivals and awards has in independent film development and discovery.

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