Comedy. Conflict. Suspense. Intrigue. Drama.
It wasn’t easy to put all of that into a five-to ten-minute film, but six aspiring film-makers took that challenge and presented six different points of view when they took part in the Barbados Film and Video Association (BFVA) 48-hour challenge last weekend.
All six were original submissions and came in for high praise for their creativity and effort at the presentation of the awards.
Shown before friends and the film-makers, specially invited guests, sponsors and judges, the films were mandated to contain an element of either a one-cent coin, skateboarding, sticklicking or pitching marbles.
The line “the road ahead of us” must be present in the film.
From zombies to an enormous Black Belly sheep, from the concept of wants versus needs to the importance of a father, the films were of exceptional production quality in terms of camera work, props, frame angles, lighting, sound and script.
The challenge started Friday, September 19, and ended Sunday, September 21, when all the submissions were to be handed in by 7:30 p.m.
One of the four judges, Jim McGowan, said he was very pleased with the level of work.
“I thought it was a pretty tough challenge to do in 48 hours. But it was an amazing job done by all. The quality produced can be seen anywhere in the world.
“I encourage you all to keep moving forward. I would love to see what you can do with more time and bigger budget.”
President of the BFVA, Lynette Eastmond, said she was happy with the growth in numbers for the 2014 submissions and Renata Mohammed, senior manager, marketing and business at Deloitte, sponsor of the challenge and Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley also praised the creativity.
At the end of the night Crossroads, a movie about what one would do if faced with a difficult decision, with an ending that could go either way (you have to watch it to see) took the top award of Best Film for the IBC team of Damien Pinder and Clish Gittens.
Shouts of jubilation sounded at Plae, Newton, Christ Church, when they were announced winners, defending the title of Best Film won in last year’s 48-hour challenge.
Crossroads also won Best Cinematography and Best Actor (Gittens).
Best Editing and Best Original Script went to The Showdown; Best Sound and Best Actress (Shakirah Forde) went to Time For Change.
The Showdown was second runner-up and The Fallen was third runner-up for Best Film. The other two films were The Operation and My Dad.
