Two Short Nights Film Festival Award Winners

Local and international directors win awards at the Two Short Nights Film Festival

Pictured:  Paul Parncutt and the team behind Cloaned with their award for Best Short Film Commission.

Exeter Phoenix’s annual short film festival, Two Short Nights, brought flocks of filmmakers, viewers and industry specialists to the city last week in a celebration of short films and the people who make them.

With an emphasis on local filmmaking talent, the festival’s opening night on Thursday included the 48 Hour Film Screening, a collection of films written, shot and edited in just 48 hours. Supported by Cineon Productions filmmakers were in with a chance of winning £150 worth of equipment or training.

Toby De Burgh of Cineon Productions said ‘It has been great to support local filmmaking in this way and we were really impressed with the standard of films in the competition.’

Friday’s festival line up featured a sell out screening of Exeter Phoenix’s five film commissions of 2015. Jonas Hawkins, Digital Media Manager said: ‘The festival is all about offering a platform for new and emerging film talent and connecting filmmakers with a cinema audience’. 

Other festival highlights included the International Shorts Screenings, a curated selection of inspiring short film from directors across the globe and a Live Pitch from filmmakers competing to win the £500 2016 Devon Documentary Commission. An award ceremony and after party brought the festival to a close.

Award Winners

Best Short Film Commission

Paul Parncutt for Cloaned

Best International Submission

Scott Willis and John Batty for What Do You See?

Audience Choice Award

Amanda Whittington for her documentary Jab Jab The Biggest Band You’ve Never Heard Of

Best 48 Hour Film

First place went to Team Carpentersson Constructions for Fireworks.

Second place went to Team Candylad for Dear Abigail

Third place went to Team Aardvark for Indie Pendant and the Lobster of Doom  

2016 Devon Documentary Commission Winner

Simeon Costello won over the panel at Friday’s Live Pitch with his proposal to document his journey around the perimeter of the UK using only public bus transport on local routes.

This year’s awards were made by art students from The Maynard School with each one embodying it own bespoke design.