Film Reviews
SHORT FILM COMPETITION - OPEN SHORTS 2014 - Buxton Film
Now in its 6th year, Buxton Film’s Open Shorts competition continues to go from strength to strength, drawing entries from across the country. Their annual evening during the Fringe showcases the cream of the competition entries for that year, compered authoritatively by Keith Savage.
All six short films in this year’s selection were well made and engaging works and made for an entertaining evening. It seems slightly invidious to review each film separately, given that they have already been judged by the Open Shorts panel. Suffice it to say that I’d have chosen a different winner: Jo Southwell’s Cover Me – a monologue, powerfully played by Isis Davies, showing the destruction of a girl by abuse and rape – was to my mind the most assured offering.
But that’s part of the fun of an evening like this – seeing a variety of work and making your own mind up. And with a rosta of films that included the disappointments of a long relationship, romantic drama, Tarantino-esque black comedy, dystopian anti-capitalist satire and broadly played Ricky Gervais-ish comedy of awkwardness there truly was something for everyone.
Long may Open Shorts continue!
Robbie Carnegie