Straight 8 shootout at cannes 2019

Compete with the best in the world. Confirmed companies so far include a mixture of previous competitors and others new to straight 8.

Iris Worldwide, London (Gold Winner 2018) // The Producers, Melbourne (Silver Winner 2018) // Taiyo Kikaku, Tokyo (Gold Winner Shootout Online, Dec 2018) // Rattling Stick, London // Partizan, London //Society, Los Angeles // Forever, London // British Arrows Doorways, London (part of British Arrows)

Enter now. Make your film in-camera-edited super 8 film by May 31. Open brief. See it with everyone else, for the first time, in Cannes on June 20th 11am, in a huge cinema.

Companies are invited to rise to the straight 8 shootout challenge: make a 2.5 minute short film created entirely in-camera on just one cartridge of super 8mm film. Every shot is taken in story order, with no opportunity for re-takes or editing. Any visual effects, colouring and titling must be done the old-fashioned way: as part of the shoot, with the camera. Super 8 doesn’t record sound, so soundtracks are made ‘blind’ and must be original. Entrants send their exposed but un-developed film cartridges to straight 8 partners Cinelab London who process and scan the films. straight 8 then lines up each soundtrack with the first frame of each film. It’s that ‘simple’. And the most thrilling part is that the first time anyone sees even their own work - no matter how or if it came out - is at the premiere in a huge cinema in Cannes in June, packed with an audience of their peers and competitors. A live vote at the cinema immediately follows the screening and winning companies donate prize money to the charities of their choice, as well as taking home a recycled camera trophy made by shootout sponsors, Machine Shop. Because every film is shown at the premiere, 20 is the maximum number of companies that may enter. To enter, interested companies must register on the straight 8 site ASAP. www.straight8.net - once the 20 places run out, it’s closed!

This year a special 21st entry is being donated by straight 8 to British Arrows Doorways which finds and engages with young people from all backgrounds and connects them with the advertising industry, so be careful who you’re up against.

The creative brief? Simply: what you want to do with 2.5 minutes of the silver screen at a beautiful cinema full of colleagues, competitors and friends?

straight 8 is celebrating its 20th birthday this year. Since launching shootout in 2016 with APA London, its success has been proven at Cannes, Ciclope and Adfest and most recently the first straight 8 shootout online with a live online premiere broadcast where entering companies in USA, Canada, Argentina, London, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Tokyo saw their work at 2pm GMT, which was 6am PST and 11pm in Tokyo. Many top companies from around the world have now risen to straight 8’s shootout challenge. See some of the companies who’ve entered and some of the charities who’ve benefited to date, at straight8.net/shootout

The 2019 competition will premiere at 11am on June 20th at the Arcades Cinema, Cannes. Tickets are already available at straight8.net/shootout A welcome breakfast for entering teams and ticket-holders will be held from 10am at the cinema - hosted by Madam Films, a long time supporter and first time sponsor of straight 8 shootout. And in partnership with charity cycle ride The FireFlies Tour, £5 from every ticket sold for the premiere will go towards their fundraising for Bloodwise.