Entertainment - Media News Watch originally published at Entertainment - Media News Watch

Source: BMW/BFI

Michaela Coel (centre) with the five shortlisted BMW Challenge film teams

Five UK projects have been shortlisted for the first BMW Filmmaking Challenge, which aims to support aspiring filmmakers and uncover fresh perspectives in the industry.

The initiative was launched earlier this year by Bafta winner Michaela Coel as part of a partnership between BMW and the BFI, and the five teams were shortlisted from 400 applications, awarding each a PS10,000 ($12,800) production budget, access to 8K camera equipment and mentoring from Coel.

The shorts are Blades, Daytimers, Rice Ball, Hen Do and We Collide.

The filmmakers have been tasked with bringing their stories to life in just 90 seconds with the theme of ‘evolving perspectives’.

Blades is directed by Christopher Chuky, written by Eno Mfon and produced by Tony Longe Amara Rossell. It follows a group of young Black boys who run into a building, one of whom is about to do the unimaginable.

Daytimers will provide insight into the South Asian DJ collective that are breaking new ground in Britain and is written and directed by Tulsi Shivaanand, and produced by Eliza Lewis.

Rice Ball is an animation about a young Taiwanese schoolgirl who is afraid to bring her lunch to school for fear of being ridiculed for being different. The film is written and directed Kristina Pringle and produced by Samantha Locock & Harry Shaw. Alia Ghafar is the writer and director. Her shorts have been screened at many film festivals, and she is currently developing her debut feature. We Collide

has been described as a “queercore romance” and is about finding true love in the most unlikely places. The film will be finished in September. The winning film will premiere at the 67th

BFI London Film Festival closing on October 15 before being made available through BFI Player. The judges are actor Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education

, Doctor Who), journalist-turned-screenwriter Terri White and Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Asif Kapadia.Netflix UK reworks emerging filmmaking initiative Breakout and reshapes local film team (exclusive)

Entertainment - Media News Watch originally published at Entertainment - Media News Watch