Remix the news into your own avant-garde short film
- Text by Adam White
- Photography by ITN Source
Following its successful inaugural launch in 2015, ITN Source has once again opened up its archives for its Short Film Competition. Local and international filmmakers are invited to have a browse through its lengthy treasure trove of historical news footage and cut together a minute-long short film. Free music can also be sourced from the Audio Network music library.
The three finalists, selected by a grand jury, will then be screened at 2016’s Sheffield Doc/Fest, where festival attendees will vote for their favourite. Last year saw 71 short films submitted. HM United, a rapid-fire celebration of all things quintessentially British, was ultimately selected as the winner, with director Xavier Perkins scooping a £1,000 prize.
Other notable entries in 2015 included the surreal, energetic Those Who Dance by Daniel Cantagallo, Edward Emsley’s Twenty Seven, a tribute to the ’27 Club’ myth, and an untitled film by Abolfazl Talooni that explores the immigrant experience through UK history.
The submitted films themselves are often celebratory and nostalgic, much of the utilised footage stemming from the black-and-white glitz of the ’50s and ’60s. But many also exploit the archives for their ability to showcase important moments in cultural and political history.
So take a look around the archives and dust off your Final Cut Pro, it might just be you at this year’s podium collecting a big cheque.
Visit Sheffield Doc/Fest for dates and information on how to access the ITN archives.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck
Is the UK ready for a Kabaddi boom?
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Kabaddi — Watched by over 280 million in India, the breathless contact sport has repeatedly tried to grip British viewers. Ahead of the Kabaddi World Cup being held in Wolverhampton this month, Kyle MacNeill speaks to the gamechangers laying the groundwork for a grassroots scene.
Written by: Kyle MacNeill
One photographer’s search for her long lost father
Decades apart — Moving to Southern California as a young child, Diana Markosian’s family was torn apart. Finding him years later, her new photobook explores grief, loss and connection.
Written by: Miss Rosen
As DOGE stutters, all that remains is cringe
Department of Gargantuan Egos — With tensions splintering the American right and contemporary rap’s biggest feud continuing to make headlines, newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains how fragile male egos stand at the core of it all.
Written by: Emma Garland
Photo essay special: Despite pre-Carnival anxiety, Mardi Gras 2025 was a joyous release for New Orleans
A city celebrates — Following a horrific New Year’s Day terror attack and forecasts for extreme weather, the Louisiana city’s marquee celebration was pre-marked with doubt. But the festival found a city in a jubilant mood, with TBow Bowden there to capture it.
Written by: Isaac Muk
From his skating past to sculpting present, Arran Gregory revels in the organic
Sensing Earth Space — Having risen to prominence as an affiliate of Wayward Gallery and Slam City Skates, the shredder turned artist creates unique, temporal pieces out of earthly materials. Dorrell Merritt caught up with him to find out more about his creative process.
Written by: Dorrell Merritt
In Bristol, pub singers are keeping an age-old tradition alive
Ballads, backing tracks, beers — Bar closures, karaoke and jukeboxes have eroded a form of live music that was once an evening staple, but on the fringes of the southwest’s biggest city, a committed circuit remains.
Written by: Fred Dodgson