Two Short Nights Film Festival Returns This December

Exeter Phoenix’s Two Short Nights Film Festival is set to return for its 12th year and is promising to showcase some of the most extraordinary and exciting short films from around the world. From Thursday 12th to Friday 13th December film lovers can watch screenings of newly commissioned shorts, international shorts and films that have been made in only 48 hours, as well as attending seminars giving insights into the film industry.

The festival culminates with the premiere of six short films commissioned by Exeter Phoenix Digital. Four of this year’s commissions are specifically for Devon-based short film projects in order to provide vital opportunities to local filmmakers. The Devon shorts Ahshi, The Grendel Toots, Gnomeland and the Old, Grey, Fast will all premiere on the Friday night as well the national commission Birdwatching. The sixth commission to premiere will be Host Familie and is unique in that it is the first short film to be commissioned by Exeter Phoenix Digital on the proviso that it achieved matched fundraising through crowdfunding. Previously commissioned filmmakers have gone on to be very successful with Andy Oxley’s film, Men, Loos and Number Twos, first commissioned by Exeter Phoenix, being screened at the London Short Film Festival, nominated for a Virgin Shorts Award and winning the Golden Poo Awards!

Crowdfunding is a theme of this year’s Two Short Nights Festival and there is a special panel discussion on this subject. Dr. John Sealey from Plymouth University will be joined by Emily Smith of crowdfunder.co.uk to look at the benefits of this new way of funding and its implications for the future of film. Local filmmakers will also be on hand to share their experiences in this area.

400 short films were submitted for this year’s International Shorts Screenings meaning there will be three separate sessions. Each of the screenings includes a collection of shortlisted films that have been grouped by the themes of Panorama, Fresh Choices and Old Conclusions and Overwhelming, Uncontrollable, Frenzied.

As in previous years, audiences will have the chance to select the Best Film from a range of shorts all made in 48 hours. The 48 Hour Film Challenge requires participants to plan, shoot and edit a film in only two days. A previous participant, Greg Ash, who took part in the 48 Hour Film Challenge in 2009 has gone to have a hugely successful filmmaking career in America with his short film Fired having been nominated for Best Comedy at the LA Comedy Festival.

The Two Short Nights Film Festival will also welcome, for the first time, sponsorship from Colourburn the creative agency who aim to make stories extraordinary through a fresh approaches to film and marketing.

Filmmaker and Colourburn co-founder Damo Cross said, “We are really glad to be involved with 2 Short Nights this year, there is so much fresh talent out there and the quality of the films is always outstanding. The culture of Colourburn is very much about collaborative working, so for us this is a great opportunity to connect with great film makers and story tellers.”

Tickets for all the screenings and seminars throughout the Two Short Nights Festival are on sale now and can be obtained by visiting the Exeter Phoenix box office or by calling 01392 667080. Tickets are also available online here >>