CO-VID Film Awards - Small Axe 2020
The COVID19 coronavirus pandemic is as a paradigm shifting event. It is hard to think of an area of life that will not be affected by it.
For filmmakers there are huge practical issues to overcome in attempting to tell stories in or around the pandemic. This requires radical approaches to film form and the collection or creation of media.
There are amazing stories to tell of community mobilisation and collective action. The realisation that we rely on our local communities while being intimately connected on a global scale. There are political stories, spiritual stories, scientific stories, and very personal stories to tell.
As a species we have had pandemics before, but never in a world where every human is so connected. Whatever your interest or focus it must now be seen through a lens tinted by the knowledge of this unprecedented event.
Small Axe 2020 will be a CO-VID film festival.
All being well the films will be shown as usual in the Vintage Mobile Cinema at Tolpuddle RFF, in July. If the event is still not possible by then, it will take place online.
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Small Axe is a film competition for films with something to say.
• No film can be too political
• We accept everything - from direct polemic, to experimental film, from original fiction to observational documentary.
• We want opinion, analysis, personal stories, ideology, vision and fresh perspectives.
• Challenge, explore, celebrate, discuss…
In short, any film that you feel is radical is welcome. As long as it is short (under 30 minutes).
The Small Axe awards are given at the Tolpuddle Radical Film Festival. http://www.tolpuddleradicalfilm.org.uk/small-axe
The festival takes place alongside the Tolpuddle Martyr's festival in the village of Tolpuddle in Dorset, U.K. http://www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/festival This commemorates the foundation of the union movement, and is a major national event for left-wing groups in the U.K. Films are screened to a select audience in the only remaining 1960's ministry of technology Mobile Cinema truck. http://www.vintagemobilecinema.co.uk/
The festival runs over three days (from Friday to Sunday) showing a selection of feature films and competition shorts. On Sunday morning there is a full programme of shorts, followed by the announcement of the Small Axe awards and another screening of the winning films.
There is a charge to attend the full weekend, but there is free entry on the Sunday.
Our Patrons and supporters include Paul Watson and Ken Loach. In previous years the Smallaxe Jury has included Leila Sansour, Jeremy Hardy and Fran Higson. Award winners are invited to participate in the Jury for future years.
Films made by established activists and film-makers:
Best Factual Film
Best Fiction Film
Films made by Students and first time filmmakers:
Best Fiction Film
Best Factual Film
Best film by a filmmaker under 18 years old
