In May and June 2024, we ran an archive-inspired Filmmaker Challenge leading up to two industry sessions at Sheffield DocFest about archive-inspired filmmaking. We offered emerging filmmakers access to 40 films for creative reuse, challenging them to create a short film (up to three minutes) which reinterpreted the archive in new and imaginative ways. The collection below spanned a range of themes and included many films of local interest.
We were really impressed by the creativity and diversity of the thirty-three short films produced over a two-week period for the challenge. Seven of the films were screened during our Make Film History session at Sheffield DocFest and two shared a £1000 cash prize. You can watch some of the shortlisted films below.
This project was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (part of UK Research and Innovation) and supported by our archive partners: BBC Archive, the British and Irish Film Institutes, Northern Ireland Screen, Yorkshire Film Archive and Villon Films, with thanks to Alex Wilson, Jackie Jones, Martin John Harris and David Falconer Rea.