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 This was submitted by Chris using the open content submission - and if you click to read more, includes an 'Eat My Shorts' comedy film contest with the winners screened at the Groovy Movie Picturehouse - the world's first (and only?) solar powered cinema.
This September (25-28th) will see the launch of the first ever International Comedy Film Festival in Torquay, on the south west coast of England.
The inaugural week-long event will take place in an area affectionately
dubbed the "English Riviera" and in many ways the spiritual birthplace
of classic British comedy. Peter
Cook, who was crowned the world's greatest comedian by his peers in a
recent survey of 300 writers, directors and comedians, was born in
Torquay. A close runner-up in the survey was one John Cleese, who will
remain forever associ ated with the town thanks to his role as the
world's most irascible hotel owner, Basil Fawlty. The sitcom Fawlty Towers,
set in Torquay of course, has also been voted the best British sitcom
of all time. It's a comic legacy that certainly deserves to be
celebrated.
John
Cleese said: "I'm delighted to learn that Torquay is launching its
International Comedy Film Festival. I think of Torquay as being the
home of British comedy. The first time I saw Bruce Forsyth was in the
Babbacombe Pavilion in the mid 50s; we had a very successful Monty
Python shoot there in 1970; it was then that I met the famous Donald
Sinclair, the model for Basil Fawlty; and I for many years followed the
hilarious antics of Torquay United at Plainmoor."
The English Riviera is indeed as much Monty Python as Monte Carlo,
with a number of scenes from Monty Python's Flying Circus filmed in
Torquay and neighbouring Paignton. Scenes from Monty Python And The
Holy Grail were also filmed in Occombe Woods. The Comic Strip Presents
is also closely linked with the area, further cementing Devon's comedy heritage and credentials. The
English Riviera is perfectly qualified to hold such a prestigious
event, having reinvented itself as a cosmopolitan playground where café
culture socialites are rewarded by world-class service and emerald bay
views. It will soon gain a reputation as the home of the ‘Cannes of
Comedy Film' thanks to this exciting new event. The
International Comedy Film Festival will provide a platform for national
and international comedy film makers to showcase their new work to the
public, whilst also commemorating the heritage of comedy film classics.
Films featured will not only be future blockbusters from large studios,
but also the cream of student and independent productions keen to find
an audience and distribution channel.
Filmmakers
will be able to enter their work in the Eat My Shorts competition,
while the Oska Bright section of the festival will see the screening of
films made by people with learning difficulties, as well as associated
workshops. We are also very excited to welcome a selection of features
shown as part of this year's Birds Eye View Festival in London. Clowning Glories will feature classic silent comedies with live orchestration from celebrated female musicians. Local
film makers including Oscar nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins and
BAFTA-nominated writer Paul Andrew Williams have both expressed their
support for the project and will hopefully be able to be actively
involved in the festival, depending on work commitments.
A
new British comedy called "Snappers" is also being filmed on the
English Riviera this summer starring soul singer Joss Stone and
Caroline Quentin. The film tells the story of an actress fleeing the
paparazzi and finding love in the most unexpected of places. The
romantic comedy will feature local people as extras and provides the
perfect opportunity for residents to be involved in the film making
process. The
team believe that the International Comedy Film Festival will evolve
into a real player on the international film festival circuit. After
all, Cannes was once just a small fishing village and Sundance is in the middle of nowhere! For more information and to download entry forms for the Eat My Shorts competition, please visit www.InternationalComedyFilmFestival.com
WE WANT YOUR SHORTS The
team behind the first ever English Riviera International Comedy Film
Festival, are looking for your comedy shorts - and no, they are not
talking about the embarrassing pair of cartoon boxer shorts your mum
bought you for Christmas. They are calling for submissions for the
inaugural Eat My Shorts comedy film competition, which is being held as
part of the festival which takes place between Thursday 25th and Sunday 28th September.
Since the website at www.internationalcomedyfilmfestival.com launch just two weeks ago, a huge amount of submissions have already been received from across the world. In fact entries have come in from the USA and Canada, as well as across both eastern and mainland Europe.
Filmmakers stand the chance of having their films screened at the
festival, with some fantastic prizes up for grabs for the winners. The
rules couldn't be any more straightforward. The films need to be
short...and they need to be comedies. Ideally the films need to be up to
15 minutes long, although they will stretch to 30 minutes "if it is a
work of comic genius."
Entries
must have been produced within the last twelve months and submitted on
DVD in any regional format. Films in languages other than English
require English subtitles. The deadline for entries is 15th September 2008.
A panel of industry and comedy experts will grab their popcorn and
watch all of the entries, whittling the witty creations down to the
very best. These will then be screened in the Groovy Movie Solar
Powered Cinema on Torre Abbey Meadows as part of the festival. The
winning films in each category will be announced at our all-star gala
night being held at the Riviera International Centre - live from the
glittering heart of the English Riviera on Saturday 27th September. The categories are: 16 and under; 17 to 21; and 22 and over.
Obviously,
filmmakers will be entering the competition because they have a passion
for the genre and not for any sort of financial reward - although as a
bonus, you will be glad to learn that prizes will include cash, flights
and a very quirky award to pop on your mantelpiece! Aviva
Pearson, Director Of Tourism said: "The International Comedy Film
Festival is not only about screening new and classic blockbusters, but
also about discovering brand new comedy talent as well. We have viewed
a few of the entries already and the standard is incredibly high, which
is really exciting. I would strongly encourage film makers to get
involved, get creative and make us laugh!"
For more information and to download entry forms for the Eat My Shorts competition, please visit www.InternationalComedyFilmFestival.com
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