Portsmouth's Short Film Festival
Guide Award
THE NEWS GUIDE AWARDS 2009: BEST FILM
In partnership with Portsmouth's local newspaper, The News, short films submitted to Shorts::Cut '09 will be judged as part of The Guide Awards. The awards honour the best in local culture and entertainment, with awards given out at a glittering event held at the famous King's Theatre in Southsea.
Audience members who attended either of this year's Shorts::Cut events in August got a chance to nominate their favourite films. The results have gone towards compiling the shortlist for this years' News Guide Award.
VOTE HERE FOR THE BEST LOCAL SHORT FILM
Note the number of the film you've chosen from the list below and enter it on the online voting form at the link above.
The nine nominates films were shown at at a special Shorts::Cut screening at No.3 Cinema on 9 October, as part of the 2009 Portsmouth Film Festival.
The films shortlisted for this years' award are:
1) The Club - directed by Guy Murray-Brown. (Documentary). An enigmatic and humorous look at the people who work at the Elegance strip club in Portsmouth - 9 minutes.
2) Ballet School for Over 50s - directed by Stuart McKears. (Documentary) Open day performances and interviews with the members of the Balandis Lilley Ballet school in Bognor Regis - 4 minutes.
3) Less Than Romantic - Directed by Simon Hatt. (Comedy) Alex has two days to find a girlfriend, recover his brothers half of the inheritance, and polish the trophies! No pressure - 10 Minutes
4) Mark - directed by James Harrison. (Documentary) Professional BMX rider and local resident mark Webb ignores medical advice after breaking his back, and travels to China to compete in the international X-Games 10 minutes.
5) Me Plus One - directed by Russell Oastler. (Documentary) 21 year-old single mum Vicki Parks faces the harsh realities and frustrations of choosing to have a child at a young age. 9 minutes
6) The Girl Of My Dreams - directed by Russell Oastler. (Documentary) Adam Pacitti is searching for his true love, a girl he met in a dream. (4 minutes)
7) No Diving - directed by Roy Hanney and Jez Stevens. (Documentary) Memories of Hilsea Lido live on through a celebration of architectural heritage and community memory using video projections of archive footage projected on the walls of this famous venue - 11 minutes.
8) Dead Air - Directed by Wesley Skelly. (Drama) The lives of a DJ and listener intermingle as things start to get creepy. A strange fate meets radio DJ George, one that may also affect his audience. - 11 Minutes
9) Sensations of the Season - directed by Jan Stephens. (Animation) A stop motion animated extravaganza, featuring Unzie and his Fantastical Freak Show - 5 Minutes
To be eligible for The Guide Award for Best Local Film,the film must have been made, or the filmmakers (in particular the writer, director, producer and/or the principal cast members) should live or study within The News'circulation area, including Portsmouth & Southsea, Havant, Fareham, Waterlooville, Chichester, Bognor Regis, Petersfield, and Bishop's Waltham. The film should have been completed after January 1, 2008.
Least year's winner was the drama "Stolen Youth", directed by Leon Chambers, and produced by Lee on Solent resident Gary Rowland. Runner-up was the documentary "Guilty", written and directed by Portsmouth resident Russell Oastler.
