o-region film festival supported by Falmouth University receives record number of entries

Cornish film and theatre company o-region received a record number of entries into the 2020 Roughcut 60 Second Film Challenge. 

Usually held in the Plaza Cinema, Truro, this year’s entries were hosted on the o-region website. All of the films were 60 seconds long and explored the theme of ‘secrets'. 

In total, 618 films were entered into the competition from around the world attracting an audience of more than 7,200 and 2,416 voting for their favourite. 

Simon Harvey, Director of o-region said:

We’re really delighted that the Film Challenge has grown so exponentially this year. We’re blown away that there are likeminded individuals all over the world who have a passion for making innovative, funny, moving and downright entertaining short form films.

The best young people’s film, runners up and overall winner were chosen by a panel of industry judges, including Falmouth University lecturer and BAFTA award-winning Director Mark Jenkin and Andy Joule; Head of Animation, Prosthetics and Effects, School of Film & Television, Falmouth University. 

The Audience Award was voted for by the viewers at home, with all winners announced in a live broadcast via the o-region Facebook page.  

Matty McCabe, Winner of the Runners Up prize said: “It's given me the burst of creative confidence I needed in these times.”

The winning films are available to view on the o-region website.   

Winners of Roughcut 60 Second Film challenge 2020:  

• Overall winner: Peter Kimball from Massachusetts, USA mart, dark and very funny animation Grace winning £1000.   
• Best Young Peoples Film: 17-year-old Liza Saldova from Madrid for her film, The Beauty of Life. Prize of £250.  
• Audience Award voted by the public: Sahil Yadav from Dehli for his animation Acceptance. Prize of £250 
• Runners Up: Matty McCabe from London for his film There’s No Such thing as Monsters and Fin Wallace from Truro for his film The Big Secret. Prize of £250 each.

The judging panel included:  

• Mark Jenkin - BAFTA award winning Cornish Writer / Director of BAIT  
• Phillippa Giles - Cornwall based TV Producer, known for her Bafta award winning work on Luther, Silent Witness, Emma and Jane Eyre. Now runs Bandit television (Delicious) and is the chair of Screen Cornwall. 
• Nema Hart - Senior Manager Arts Council England with a specialism in creative media and strategic partnerships 
• Kevin Brownridge - Chair of o-region, Experienced Arts and Business Consultant 
• Toby Haynes - Director Brexit: The Uncivil War, Black Mirror, Dr Who 
• Connie Farr - Music Supervisor, Founder of Think Sync Music (Military Wives, Only You, Greed) 
• Matthew Humby - Manager of the Plaza Cinema, WTW Cinemas 
• Laura Giles - Independent Producer (The Tape) Programme Lead Screen Cornwall, o-region (Board) 
• Andy Joule - Head of Animation, Prosthetics and Effects, School of Film & Television, Falmouth University 

Find out more about the School of Film & Television