RGU Film Festival ran for the second year in a row showcasing short films from around the world. The event received a fantastic turn out at the Belmont Filmhouse and the winners were awarded with trophies.
The Film Society hosted the RGU Film Festival for the second year running, and was sponsored by Triple Kirks. The festival showcased short films from around the world. The event received a fantastic turn out at the Belmont Filmhouse and the winners were awarded with trophies.
Best Student Film – Tete a Tete
Best Non- Student Film - Afterword
The RGU Film Festival raised money for Coppa Feel, a breast cancer awareness charity. The festival organisers are encouraging attendees to provide feedback from the event via social media or email.
Radar interviewed two of the film festival organisers, Craig and Scott.
Radar: How was the event this year?
Craig: It was a great success. The first festival was a good start and we had something to work from. The second festival, this year, still has things to work on behind the scenes rather than event itself. It is a good template to go forward with. I will be looking forward to what the next committee do.
Scott: We definitely improved on last year. The event needed the interval with the classical music playing in between each short film.
Craig: The showing was two hours long and having to watch lots of short films, the interval was needed. When watching short films, you are being pulled in and out. You invest in one film and then you have to breath out and go back in again with the next film. This can be harder for a longer period of time, compared to a two hour movie.
Radar: What were the best features of winning films?
Scott: Both of the films that won had the same theme. Even last year they had the same theme of animation.
Craig: Yes they both had a level of creativity and how it integrates with reality. For Tete a Tete, I have never seen an animation like that. It had older forms of stop motion, and the interface is really cool. For Afterword, we had similar films submitted, with a poetic monolog. There is a temptation to be too clever or pretentious, and you really have to stick to your guns with a film like that. You have to fully believe in what you are saying and inject humour. It can be really powerful. The festival began with the film Afterword and ended with Tete a Tete, and this was an accident, but it was a good way to begin and end the festival. It was good to end with Afterword because the music was good and the movement felt like it was building up to something special. Tete a Tete was a great opening as it had a sweet story get behind.
Scott: The visual effects were good and everyone asked about this film.
Radar: What were the highlights of the festival?
Scott: I would say the films. Some I liked and some I disliked. I liked the film about the supermarket because it showed what happens in life and it had multiple messages about the way society is.
Craig: Attendees said the film about the supermarket was one of the best films, especially for the best actor performance. In this short film, you can tell things about the character, like his problems and why he was betraying his friends and principles to stay out of losing his job. A short film with great story telling from a persons’ point of view, with no talking and yet we know these people. Listening to attendees after the festival, showed that people were engaging. Even if they did not like some of the films, they were still engaging. I really appreciate it when the film makers get in contact with the festival. We are a tiny festival and we could be bigger. Eilidh Gow, one of the film makers, made it to the festival. She made the film called The bare necessities.
Scott: Film makers travelled from England and came to both days.
Craig: That was so cool, to know they appreciated being part of festival.
Radar: The film festival raisded money for the charity, Coppa Feel. What are the aims of charity?
Craig: We were thrilled to support Coppa Feel. It is really good to support people outside of the film society and the festival. They are a breast cancer awareness charity, telling the public to check their body regularly. It is extremely important, for women and men, to sign up to get text alerts that people to check, and educate on what to look out for.
£67 in donations was raised for Coppa Feel. Both days of the festival were sold out and over 200 people attended over two days.
Congratulations to the film winners and good luck to the new committee of the Film Society.