The National Archives in the UK has chosen the First World War as this year’s theme for a competition for aspiring film makers.
‘Files on Film’ encourages them to explore the diverse collection of documents and pictures housed at the National Archives in London as inspiration for an original short film.
Ten First World War documents have been selected and put online for the competition. Entrants must use one or more of them as the starting point for a three-minute ‘short.’
They include songs from the Women’s Land Army booklet; poet Siegfried Sassoon’s famous protest letter against the war; and the Security Service file on Mata Hari, the Dutch-born dancer executed in France in 1917 for spying.
Jenni Orme, Manager of Public History at the National Archives, said: “Bringing these valuable records to life through the medium of film will allow people to engage in the First World War as never before.”
Closing date
Closing date for entries is January 7th 2015.
The judges include Chris Coucher, the award-winning film maker currently producing season five of the period television drama, Downton Abbey.
Also on the panel are Jeff James, Chief Executive and Keeper of the National Archives; and former broadcaster and diplomat Ian Hay-Campbell, who’s Chairman of the Friends of the National Archives,
There’s a cash prize of £500 for the winner; with £200 for the runner-up, and £100 for third place. The winning entry will be shown on the National Archives’ website.
Full details of how to enter, and the 10 documents to choose from, are available here.
Information & images supplied by The National Archives
Posted by: Peter Alhadeff, Centenary News