Sgrîn announces Screen Gems shortlist

Sgrîn Cymru Wales has announced its shortlist (available at www.sgrin.co.uk)of the 15 competitors who will go thought to the next stage of the Screen Gems initiative, its flagship three-minute short film production scheme.
Screen Gems, now in its fifth year, is open to writer and director teams and producers/production companies. Winners are given the all the facilities required to produce an entire film and past winners have gained both national and international awards and nominations.
The scheme also offers a taste of valuable paid work experience to eight trainees looking to get a feel for the world of film production, in areas such as producing, production design and camera work.
With the gauntlet laid down to entrants back in April, this year’s projects are based on the theme of ‘Touch’. The selection process has once again proven to be very tough with a high standard of work being submitted from around 70 applicants.
“The ‘buzz’ surrounding Screen Gems seems to increase year after year and the focus of ‘Touch’ has definitely been a source of inspiration,“ said Sgrîn’s New Talent and Short Film Manager, Gaynor Messer-Price. “We’re always looking for ways to add value to the scheme and this year’s extended development programme, giving fifteen writers the opportunity to further develop their projects, will certainly do that. We’re looking forward to adding another ten ‘gems’ to the collection of short films that are successfully travelling the world.”
The projects chosen will now undergo an intensive development process lasting eight weeks, consisting of workshops and meetings, carried out by Sgrîn and this year’s nominated producers, Neil Wagstaff of Those People Productions, who will be managing the Digital Films, and Brian Minchin of Boda, who will be managing the 35mm films.
The final 10 contestants will then be chosen on August 16 with production commencing in September.
(GB)