Winning director scoops cash prize

Intel has announced the winners of the inaugural Intel Digital Home Short Film Competition, following a gala screening in London’s West End.
A jury that included representatives from the film and technology industries judged 10 films from finalists who had been shortlisted from over 160 entries initially received from across the UK.
Teaming up with Pinewood Shepperton Studios, Dolby and Philips, Intel challenged UK filmmakers to create an arresting 8-minute movie that included a ‘digital home’ scene in some way, such as a character using the features of an entertainment PC. 10 finalists were selected in October and given just over five weeks to produce their completed films.
First prize was awarded to Mahalia Belo for her film ‘Silent Music’. In the film an awkward musician finds his muse with the girl next door, but has to overcome a communication barrier in order to find happiness. Mahalia, a recent fine arts graduate based in London, wins a £5,000 cash prize from Intel, as well as a one-month internship with Pinewood Shepperton Studios and digital home equipment including an entertainment PC from Philips.
Second prize went to Jamie Scholes for his film ‘Cover Story’, a short film about tall tales where a man uses his computer to produce falsified evidence for the huge lies he has told to impress his date. Third prize went to Paul McCrudden for his film ‘Restoring Uncle Don’, in which a 12 year old boy spends a week with his older brother, and, with the help of a home entertainment system transforms his brother’s outlook on life and friendship. Jamie and Paul both win digital home equipment including a personal media player and a digital media adaptor.
(CD/GB)