Hull Short Film Fest runs half-sized fest in October

With the recent decision to move the legendary annual Hull short film shindig to April, a special mini festival entitled the 5 ½ Hull International Short Film Festival will take place between 5th and 7th October 2007 for everyone who is worried about missing their fix of excellent short films during the autumn months.  The first Hull event since former Leeds Film stalwart and Netribution DVD-reviewer Laurence Boyce took over, will include a Humphrey Jennings retrospective, a Simon Ellis strand (who just followed his Edinburgh win for Soft with a Palm Springs gong) and films from the brilliant Slack Video.

The 5 ½ HISFF will provide a diverse range of mini masterpieces over a three day period of screenings, masterclasses and special events. Highlights of the three days will include a retrospective of some audience favourites from the Hull International Short Film Festival during its distinguished history and a programme of shorts that have wowed viewers at international film festivals over the past including Daniel Elliot’s multi award winning UK short *Dad*, and acclaimed French comedy drama *The Guitar Lesson*.

The 5 ½ HISFF will also screen *Finest Hour: Films By Humphrey Jennings*, a series of films from one of Britain’s finest documentary makers. The screening will include *Words For **Battle**; *a stirring piece including narration from Sir Laurence Olivier. Young people also get their very own screening with *First Light Movies Present… * a selections of movies made for and by young people.

There will also be a focus on the film industry as Tony Dixon, Emerging Talent Manager of Screen Yorkshire, will be on hand to present a masterclass on *How To Fund Your Film* and will also present *Caught Short 2006*, some of the best films from Screen Yorkshire’s scheme for digital filmmakers. The 5 ½ HISFF is also proud to be hosting a retrospective of the films of *Simon Ellis*, currently one of the hottest film directors in the country. With a host of award winning shorts under his belt – his current film *Soft *has won numerous awards over the past few months including the Prix UIP at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and best film at Palm Spring and Toronto Film Festivals – Ellis’ work is ingenious and spectacular and a must for filmmakers who want to learn their craft and connoisseurs of brilliant movies. *Slack Video *will also be on hand with a series of diverse short films from filmmakers from across the region.

Hull Film Director *Laurence Boyce *said:

“The 5 ½ Hull International Short Film Festival is a celebration of the past, present and future of the Film Festival. With some truly amazing films and retrospectives alongside some illuminating masterclasses, this is the perfect opportunity for people who’ve experienced the Film Festival in the past and for those who – shockingly! – have yet to encounter the joys of short films. Whatever your interest, there’ll be something for you to enjoy so come to the 5 ½ HISFF and experience a taste of what will be in store for the 6th Hull International Short Film Festival during April 2008.”

The 5 ½ HISFF will take chiefly take place at Hull Screen, with other screenings at Artlink Exchange and other venues TBC. Full programme information will be available online over the coming days at www.hullfilm.co.uk and www.myspace.com/hullfilm whilst announcements will be made soon about when tickets will be on sale.

Funders of the 5 ½ Hull International Short Film Festival are Screen Yorkshire and Hull City Arts Unit. Partners, sponsors and supporters include Hull Screen, Cobra Beer, The University Of Lincoln, The University Of Hull, Slack Video, Hull School Of Art And Design, Hull Time Based Arts, Independent Cinema Office and First Light Movies.