Sign Language speaks to movie judging panel
Up and coming film maker Oscar Sharp has been crowned the winner of Virgin Media Shorts 2010 for his film Sign Language at its annual awards ceremony at the British Film Institute on London’s Southbank. Attended by a host of big names including competition judge Mike Newell and star of Made in Dagenham Jaime Winstone, who wore a daring dress made out of film reel, Virgin Media Shorts shines a light on the best up and coming British film talent.
Oscar was awarded the Grand Prize by host Danny Wallace at the glitzy awards ceremony, where his film triumphed over more than 1,600 competition entries. His film was chosen from a shortlist of 12 by a prestigious panel of film industry experts including BAFTA winning actress Thandie Newton, director of Four Weddings and a Funeral Mike Newell and director Duncan Jones, who this year won a BAFTA for his debut feature, Moon.
As the Grand Prize winner, Oscar will receive £30,000 funding from Virgin Media and the UK Film Council to put towards his next film, as well as gain nationwide exposure to millions of people across the country. Each of the 12 shortlisted films are currently being shown on over 200 cinema screens across the UK for a year, as well as on Virgin Media’s TV on demand service, on mobile phones and online at virginmediashorts.co.uk.
The People's Choice award of £2000 worth of film equipment went to directors Jason Wingard and Gino Evans from Manchester for the hugely popular Bus Baby, a powerful film featuring a talking baby ridiculing his teenage mother.
Oscar’s short film Sign Language is about a ‘static outdoor information technician’ (or a 'Golf Sale' sign-holder) called Ben who, on his last day, doesn’t want to say goodbye to his characterful workmates or the job he loves. It was inspired by Oscar’s early days in London, working as a runner in Soho and spending hours running errands up and down Oxford Street.
Mike Newell said “Sign Language is one of those films that stays with you after it is finished. It manages to incite emotion in hardly any time at all. I was delighted to see so much talent coming through this year, and wish all of our finalists the very best of luck for the future.”
Oscar, who hails from Potterspury in Northamptonshire and lives in London, says it was his time as a young newcomer to London that really helped him to create the film. “I was always heartbroken to see the stream of Londoners striding grimly by, brows furrowed and staring at the ground. I’d just arrived, so was full of wonder for all the incredible buildings, energy and life – but years later I catch myself doing the same thing!”
He is now hoping to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Luke Snellin, who has enjoyed great success since scooping the top prize for his short film, Mixtape, which he created especially for the Virgin Media Shorts competition. Straight after winning the Grand Prize in 2009, he was signed by production company, 2AM, and received a BAFTA nomination for Mixtape. Luke has used the Virgin Media Shorts prize fund to create a follow up to Mixtape, entitled DISCO, which is set to tour the festival circuit. DISCO features a host of young British acting talent, with Bill Milner (Son of Rambow, X-Men: First Class) reprising the leading role and Izzy Meikle-Small (Never Let Me Go) starring as his teenage crush.
Film makers Phil Samson and Olly Williams, who bagged the top award in 2008 for their film The Black Hole, which has since been showcased at the Cannes Film Festival, recently put the finishing touches to their latest film, which was partly funded by the £30,000 prize money. The talented duo credit the Virgin Media Shorts competition as a key stepping stone in their careers, which helped to increase their profile in the industry and seal a host of new work for them, including the Robbie Williams’ You Know Me video clip and a television commercial for Snickers.
Now in its third year, Virgin Media Shorts champions undiscovered film making talent and is the only short film competition to give British film makers the opportunity to have their work showcased to millions of people across the country on four screens –on TV, on mobile, online and on over cinema screens for an entire year.
For more information about Virgin Media Shorts, visit virginmediashorts.co.uk.