A Mouthful of Petrol

Filmmaking Challenge

We are delighted to present our Filmmaking Challenge for a 3rd year to inspire, engage and celebrate local filmmakers from Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh. We encourage all levels of filmmakers to pick up a camera this summer and make a documentary.

Working in partnership with Klip Films and Screen South, we devised the competition for seasoned and budding filmmakers to come up with ideas in the documentary form based on the local environment, stories and communities in Kent.

The competition is open to both professional and community filmmakers and was an opportunity to have some fun with the form or try out something new.

More info coming soon.

RULES

Films must be:

  • Documentary genre
  • Maximum 5 minutes duration
  • Shot within Kent, England
  • Made by a filmmaker/team based within Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh
  • Filmmakers must own rights to all footage and music, and have all other necessary consents and permissions

Prizes

We are awarded three prizes in 2024 and all shortlisted films were screened as part of the Documentary Festival Industry Day.

  • BEST FILM - voted by the jury - "The Sunflower Storyteller"
  • BEST ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS FILM - "Impermanence"
  • BEST FILM - voted by the Industry Day audience - "The Original Chinese Elvis"

The three winning films were announced and screened at the Closing Gala at this year’s festival. The winners received a voucher for £1000 worth of free film shooting and post-production equipment hire from Screen South including cameras, sound equipment and editing suite.

Networking and Collaboration

Our hope is for you to connect with other filmmakers. If you seek help, need crew or have questions, we invite you to become a member of our Facebook Group where you can connect and network with other filmmakers in Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh. You will need a Facebook account to become a member.

FAQ

Q: Are the credits counted as part of the 5 min duration?

A: No, the maximum duration of the “story” must be under 5 minutes. The End Credits are allowed to run for 30 seconds on top of the 5 minutes. Opening Titles and sequences are, however, included in the 5 minutes. 

Q: What music can I use?

A: You can use composed music but you must have written permission from the composer to use their music. This is easiest if you know the composer. If music has been released by a record label it is often very difficult to obtain the rights and it will most likely be expensive. We suggest teaming up with a composer or musician, or using free library music, which you may be able to find online, but make sure to check the terms of use very carefully.

Q: Can I use archive material that I have shot prior to the competition’s timescale?

A: You are allowed to use a reasonable amount of archive pictures and footage so long as you own the rights to use them and it is clear that the documentary at large was made during the challenge timescale.

Q: Do I need to be a professional filmmaker to take part?

A: No, the Filmmaking Challenge is open to both professional and non-professional community filmmakers and we welcome a range of stories, experiences and expertise.

Contact

If you have any questions, contact info@screensouth.org