Ealing Film Festival returns for 2021!
Ealing Film Festival is returning, bigger and better than ever.
Entries are now open for our 2021 festival. Depending on the lifting of the government’s Covid-19 restrictions, we hope to hold a ‘real’ event in Ealing towards the end of the year. Hopefully with a red carpet! But we will continue to run the festival online for as long as necessary.
When we launched our first festival last year, everyone was struggling to deal with the pandemic and the disruption to daily life. But despite the difficulties, filmmakers jumped at the chance to take part in our festival. We received 160 entries from all over the world and we held our awards ceremony online, hosted by comedian and TV presenter Mel Giedroyc.
“We know we took a chance, going ahead with the festival at such a difficult time in people’s lives,” says Annemarie Flanagan, one of the festival’s founders.
“But we realised that in such dark days everyone needed a lift, something to raise their spirits, and provide hope for the future. We wanted to provide a platform for filmmakers that allowed them to stay creative at a time when normal life had stopped.”
The plan for 2021 is for more of the same, but with a few tweaks based on our experience with the first festival. We will have a separate LOCKDOWN category for films that are either about the pandemic or have been made within lockdown, in compliance with the rules on social distancing. We understand it’s not easy making films at the moment.
We are also creating a special category for PERFORMANCE. This includes work normally performed on stage in front of an audience, but which has been filmed and made available online. This includes spoken-word performances like drama, poetry, and comedy sketches. But it also covers music videos, song and dance, puppetry, and even magic. Basically, any art form where the performer is using film to reach an audience.
Our third new category is the PHYLLIS CROCKER AWARD which recognises an outstanding contribution by a filmmaker identifying as a woman. This includes any of the key film-making roles, including producer, director, screenwriter, cinematographer, and film editor. This award has been named in memory of one of the women pioneers at Ealing Studios, who worked on sixty major productions as a Continuity Supervisor.
Our entry fees are among the lowest for any international film festival. Once again, there are discounts for students. In 2020, all the money raised by submission fees went back to filmmakers in the form of cash prizes. “Our aim is the same, we want to shine a spotlight on new talent,” says Alan Granley, another of the festival founders.
“The filmmakers who took part in last year’s festival told us that they really appreciated the opportunity to show their work to an appreciative audience. Now more than ever, filmmakers need that kind of encouragement.”
Once again, we will have a panel of judges with huge experience in the world of film and television. Many have won major awards for their own work. They were greatly impressed by the high standard of submissions last year.
And once again, there will be a PEOPLE’S CHOICE award, decided by a public vote.
Our first festival took place online on New Year’s Eve. We were thrilled that Mel Giedroyc, who judged our comedy entries, presented a highly entertaining awards ceremony.
“We’ll be back in 2021,” she told our viewers.
“Bigger, better, 3D, on the red carpet, Hugh Grant might even be there…who knows? And we will be shining a spotlight, as ever, on new talent.”
We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a real-world festival in 2021. We also want a red-carpet event, and we’re hoping Mel can work her magic on Hugh Grant! We also hope to welcome back some of our successful filmmakers from 2020. Brian Wallace from the United States won the award for best film about the Environment with Stay Green.
“I am very proud to have been part of the inaugural year for this festival,” he says.
“The quality of films selected was excellent, and we were humbled to be among them. The festival has some of the most impressive judges I’ve yet encountered…legit industry heavy hitters. This festival will continue to grow and prosper.”
Another of our winners was Mark Jepson. His film Remembrance picked up the best film award in the Sci-Fi category.
“A superb film festival!” was his verdict.
“It’s got off to a great start with a strong online presence, a wide selection of entries, and a credible panel of industry judges. Entry fees are reasonable, and the offer of cash prizes makes this festival stand out against the competition.
“I look forward to seeing this festival going from strength to strength. Highly recommended to all filmmakers and film lovers.”
