City Eye Film Network
2023
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Wow! What a year it's been. It feels like only yesterday that we enjoyed our first festive Network and here we are again, the perfect place for filmmakers from across the Solent region to connect and reflect on 2023. There was no speaker at this event but attendees had plenty of fun and lots of mince pies!
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November's Network took place on Monday 13th at MAST: Mayflower Studios as a prelude to SFW: Shorts Screening & Awards Ceremony. Filmmakers from the region were abound to watch their shortlisted films on the big screen. Congratulations to 'The Deal' filmmakers Edward Palmer & Tim Scott (pictured) who picked up not just one but three awards! The Michael Fuller Award for Best Film, Best Fiction & The Regional Filmmaker Award Sponsored by Solent University. In October, Zoë Viney, Curator of Film at Wessex Film & Sound Archive in Winchester, spoke to the network about archive film and how it can be accessed for research and utilised for film production purposes. Zoë is also a Postgraduate Research Student in Film at University of Southampton and her work seeks to explore gender and class in the amateur film collection of WFSA between the years of 1920-1950. At last year's Southampton Film Week, Zoë presented 'Gateway to the Archive' alongside a selection of women amateur filmmakers work from across the wider region.
September's meeting was a less formal occasion than usual, giving more time for the region's talented filmmakers to make valuable connections and take their careers to the next level. City Eye highlighted their recent activity and how attendees can benefit, including the upcoming BFI Academy Short Course 2023, as well as Southampton Film Week and its short film competition, SFW: Shorts.
Read more about BFI Academy and how to apply here. August’s Network featured a talk from Vickey Isley and Paul Smith of Boredom Research, a duo of artists who have been collaborating with world-leading science institutions since 2014, creating award-winning artwork, including projects exploring: natural systems, biodiversity, environmental conservation, and human and animal diseases. Their most recent film, Call of the Silent Cell, was entered into SFW: Shorts 2022 and walked away with three awards: Best Artist Film, Regional Filmmaker Award and the Michael Fuller Award for Best Film.
On 11 July, regular network attendee and filmmaker, Evan Preston of Presto Films delivered a talk about his move into professional filmmaking. His experience on the Film Festival circuit, including a recent trip to Cannes, as well as his latest short 'Suong' which premiered in London on June 24 at the Curzon Cinema.
On 13 June, City Eye Film Network kicked off its second year with a screening of short film, 'Frequency' which won Best Film at Solent University's Film & Media awards. This will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A. Associate Professor and Head of the Southampton Film & Television School, Darren Kerr was also present to lead the Q&A and talk about the launch of 2023's SFW: Shorts, as well as its Regional Filmmaker award. On May 9, we welcomed Writer & Director Chris Reading. Chris explored the process of concepting for two of his films. ALIEN: Containment, developed for the 40th Anniversary of the Alien franchise and The Unreason, his next feature, which is currently in post-production. Attendees got to see CAD drawings and concept art, learning just how integral previsualisation is to high-concept filmmaking.
April's session fell just after Easter, and was a lovely and relaxed evening of casual networking and sharing of projects. Great to see lots of new faces, and thanks to everyone for braving the April showers to make it out! In March's fully booked meeting of the Network, we were joined by filmmaker and Network member Johan Nayar, who shared the sizzle for his in-progress documentary The Banjo Boys and provided valuable insight into the filmmaking process. February's Network fell on Valentine's Day, and what better day to make connections with like-minded souls with some Speed Networking! Attendees chatted to each other in 3 minute sessions before moving on to the next person, although some conversations certainly over-ran! We're looking forward to seeing the partnerships and collaborations that come from the matchmaking. The first Network of 2023 took place on 10 January with our best attendance yet - a great omen for the new year! Roy Hanney, Mission Co-ordinator for DV Mission 48 Hour Challenge launched this year's competition, which will take place from 3 to 5 March with the Premiere Night on 11 March. |
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