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Festival 4 Awards

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Award winners

We congratulate our winning entries and extend our admiration to every film screened at the 4th Insight Festival in Manchester, UK. We were honoured to share these films with the world.

Festival 4 celebrity judging panel

➤ TINA GHARAVI: filmmaker (Iran; USA; UK; New Zealand)
Selected film trailers: Closer (2001, 02.40), The King of South Shields (2008, 02.01), I Am Nasrine (2012, 02.18)
Links: Tina Gharavi: webIMDB

➤ GARY KURTZ: film producer (USA)
Selected film trailers: American Graffiti (1973, 02.48), Star Wars IV: A New Hope (1977, 01.51), Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (1979, 02.02), Dark Crystal (1982, 02.15), Return to Oz (1985, 01.37)
Link: Gary Kurtz: IMDB

➤ PETER MALONE: SIGNIS film reviewer (Australia)
Links
: Fr Peter Malone: SIGNIS film reviewsFaith and Film seminarIMDB

➤ HENRY R SWINDELL: BBC New Writing Manager, Salford (UK)
Oversees writer development, talent partnerships and development projects in the North of England
LinksBBC Writers’ Room; Henry R Swindell: workshop clip (01.10); IMDB

➤ NEV PIERCE: Editor-at-Large, Empire Magazine (UK)
Links
Empire; Nev Pierce: webIMDB

➤ DAVID N WEISS: screenwriter (USA)
Selected film trailers: All Dogs go to Heaven (1989, 01.29), The Rugrats Movie (1998, 02.34), Rugrats in Paris (2000, 02.08), Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001, 02.21),Clockstoppers (2002, 02.22), Shrek 2 (2004, 02.31)
Link: David N Weiss: IMDB

 

Festival 4 award winners

Best in Festival

From A to B and Back Again (2012)
A film in BBC Two’s Seeking Refuge series, also known as Rachel’s Journey
Director: Andy Glynne (UK)

Links: From A to B and Back Again (Seeking Refuge: Rachel’s Journey)BBC Two film (05.01); Insight preview: blog; Mosaic Films: web; Andy Glynne: IMDB

Selected awards at other festivalsBAFTA Children’s Award, Primary Learning 2012 (UK); Best television series animation: Savannah International Animation Festival 2013 (USA)

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Insight / Coexist Award

Admissions (2012)
Producer: Gavin J Behrman (USA)

LinksAdmissionstrailer (01.13); web; Insight interview: blog; Gavin J Behrmann: IMDB

Selected awards at other festivalsBest film: International Festival for Peace, Inspiration and Equality 2012 (IDN); Best short film: Artivist Film Festival 2012, Artivist Spirit Award (USA), Carmel Art and Film Festival 2012 (USA), Spirit Quest Film Festival 2012 (USA), Other Venice Film Festival 2011, Abbot Award: ‘Most Excellent Short’ (USA), New York International Film Festival – LA Edition 2012 (USA), Hoboken International Film Festival 2012 (USA), International Movie Awards 2012 (IDN); Best children’s film: Uppsala International Short Film Festival 2012 (SWE);Best short narrative: Garden State Film Festival 2012 (USA); Woods Hole Film Festival 2012 (USA), Awareness Festival 2012 (USA), Peace on Earth Film Festival 2012 (USA), BolderLife Festival 2012 (USA); Winner, Lifetree Film Award: Lifetree Film Fest 2012 (USA); Winner, Making a Difference Award, Short Film: Commffest Global Community Film Festival 2012 (CAN)

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Insight Young Filmmakers Award

Dad (2011)
Producer/Director/Screenwriter: Michelle Bailey (UK)

LinksDad: film (11.26); Insight interview: blog; Baileyface Productions: web; Michelle Bailey:IMDB

Selected awards at other festivalsBest film: One Voice Film Festival 2012 (UK); Best international film: SoCal Independent Film Festival 2012 (USA); Best factual film: Stratford-upon-Avon Fringe Film Festival 2012 (UK); Best director: One Voice Film Festival 2012 (UK)

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Insight / SIGNIS Award

Home (2012)
Russian title: Dom Tsah
Producer/Director/Screenwriter: Ruslan Magomadov (Russia, Chechyen Republic)

LinksHome: Tbilisi International Film Festival: photo, synopsis, biography: ; Insight interview:blog; Ruslan Magomadov: IMDB

Selected awards at other festivalsBest short film: Kinofest NYC 2012 (USA), Kazan Muslim Film Festival 2012 (RUS); Film Festival Cottbus 2012 (DEU)

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Insight / Radical Middle Way: The Contemporary Islam Award

Empty Handed But Standing Strong (2011)
Persian title: Dast E Khali Del E Por
Producer/Director/Screenwriter: Babak Nabizadeh (Iran)

Links: Insight preview: blog; Babak Nabizadeh: IMDB

➤ Special Commendation

Boy in the Tree (2011)
Producer/Director/Screenwriter: Aneel Ahmad (UK; Pakistan)

Links:  Boy in the Treetrailer (01.24); video diary (01.33); Aneel Ahmad: web; Aneel Ahmad Films: web; Aneel Ahmad: IMDB

Selected awards at other festivals: Best Humanitarian Short Film: Accolade 2012 (USA); RNC Special Jury Prix Award 2012 (FRA)

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Insight / Radical Middle Way: The Convivencia Award

Bangla New Year (2011)
Bengali title: Pahela Baishakh
Director: Ahmed Muztaba Zamal (Bangladesh)

LinksNew Age (Bangladesh): article: Rainbow Film Society: web; Dhaka International Film Festival: web (currently suspended); Facebook; Celluloid, quarterly magazine: web; International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI): web

➤ Special Commendation

Hidden Thoughts (2012)
Producer/Director: Mustafa Boga (Turkey, UK)

LinksHidden Thoughtsfilm (12.14); Mustafa Boga: showreel (01.03); IMDB

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Insight / Rationalist Association Award

To Be Born (2012)
Tetum title (indigenous language of Timor-Leste): Moris Mai
Director: Loh Jing Ting [Tina] (Singapore); Producer: Cai Yun [Iris] (Singapore)

LinksTo Be Born (Moris Mai)FacebookFilament 2012; Loh Jing Ting [Tina]: About.meFollow My Wanders blog; Nantang Technological University: prize-winning essay, ‘Contemporary Southeast Asian Films‘ (2012); Cai Yun [Iris]: Fullhouse Café Travel Photo Exhibition;  Facebook;

➤ Special Commendation

You Shall Not Leave the Way! (2011)
Czech title: Nesejdeš z cesty!
Director: Veronika Szemlova (Czech Republic)

LinksYou Shall Not Leave the Way! film (07.16); Veronika Szemkova: IMDB

Selected awards at other festivalsBest animated film: MFSF Písek 2011 (CZE), Ostrava Picture 2011 (CZE), ZOOM Zblizenia 2012 (POL), Overlook 2012 (ITA); Best student film: HOPE Faludi International Film Festival 2011 (HUN); New talent prize: Freshly Squeezed 2012 (IRL)

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Insight / Greenbelt Award

Welcome to Greenbelt (2012)
Director: Tom Price (UK)

Links:  Welcome to Greenbelt: film (04.50); tomalprice: webfilms; Tom Price:blogVizifyLinkedIn

Welcome to Greenbelt was screened at the following festivals:  Solas Festival 2013 (UK); Wild Goose Festival 2013 (USA); Greenbelt 2013 (UK)

 

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You can also download the Insight Award Winners list for Festival 4 in PDF format.


Education Event: 12 February 2014

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Education Event 2014

Following the success of our first Education Day as part of the Insight Festival weekend in March 2013, we are pleased to announce our follow-up event for 14-19 year olds across Greater Manchester

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Insight Education Event

Date: Wednesday, 12 February 2014

Time: 10.00 am–3.30 pm

Venue:  Z-arts Centre in Hulme (address: 335 Stretford Road, Hulme, Manchester M15 5ZA,UK)

The event also includes the only public showcase on a big screen of the winning entries of the Insight Young Filmmakers Competition and an Award Ceremony.

Print a hard copy of the full, up-to-date details of the event by downloading the PDF below:
Free Education Event for 14-19 year olds

Cost to take part

This event is free!

Participants

The event is for teachers and their students, aged 14-19, from all schools and colleges in Greater Manchester.

The event is suitable for teachers and students from these subject areas: media studies, film studies, RE, citizenship, history, English, drama, and art.

Please note that the event is open to all; it is not an event solely for those students who entered the Young Filmmakers Competition.

Content of the day

➤ A showcase of short films by international filmmakers, from recent Insight Film Festivals;
➤ Discussions about filmmaking with a panel of BBC production experts and Q&A sessions to analyse and review the Insight films;
➤ Technical filmmaking workshops with mentors from the University of Manchester Screen Studies Department and from the BBC (e.g. Willis McBriar, a senior BBC staff trainer, will take a workshop on editing skills using cheap and simple equipment);
➤ Interviews with filmmaking professionals (including Michelle Bailey, winner of the Insight Young Filmmaker’s Award at the 4th Insight Film Festival);
➤ Screenings of the winning entries from the inaugural Insight Young Filmmakers Competition;
➤ Award ceremony for the Insight Young Filmmakers Competition.

Booking

Please complete the booking form and return by Friday, 30 January 2014 in one of the following ways:

By post: Send a paper copy to Insight Film Festival, Z-Arts, 335 Stretford Road, Hulme, Manchester M15 5ZA

By email: Send as an attachment to: insightfestivaleducation@gmail.com

And finally… please note

This is a whole-day event. We are not taking bookings for half-day attendance.

Students and teachers need to bring their own lunch and refreshments.

All films shown at the event have been rated by the Insight Festival Board as being age-appropriate viewing for young people aged 14 and above.

For further information about the event, please contact David Farrow, Insight’s Education Director, at: insightfestivaleducation@gmail.com

People: Patrons, Directors and Personnel

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People

Patrons, Board and Insight team members for the 4th Insight Film Festival and beyond.

 

Patron: Insight Festival

Lord David Puttnam CBE

Lord David Puttnam CBE FRSA is a BAFTA-winning film producer and generous contributor to the media industry. Lord Puttnam has produced hugely successful films, including Chariots of Fire, Bugsy Malone and The Mission, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1986. He was CEO at Colombia Pictures from 1986 to 1988, founded Creative Skillset in 1992, and was Chair of the National Film and Television School for ten years. He was elected UK President of UNICEF in 2002, serving until 2009. Lord Puttnam was appointed CBE in 1983, knighted in 1995 and created a Life Peer in 1997. In 1982 he received the BAFTA Michael Balcon Award for his outstanding contribution to the British Film Industry, and in 2006 was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship. In total, his films have won 10 Oscars (26 nominations), 25 BAFTAs (68 nominations) and 1 Palme d’Or.

I am pleased to support the Insight Film Festival. Its proposition, that belief is a vital motivational aspect of life for millions in the UK and throughout the world, provides rich food for thought. Filmmakers have a responsibility to reflect and explore beliefs and ideas on behalf of us all. By inviting young filmmakers to consider the importance of their responsibilities, and by encouraging community cohesion, the Insight Festival offers the opportunity for creative contributions to our understanding of each other’s dreams.

Patron: Insight Festival

David N Weiss

David N Weiss is an Emmy Award-nominatedscreenwriter and author from the USA. David has worked on hugely successful features, including The Smurfs and Shrek 2, which he co-wrote with J. David Stem. This partnership also wrote the screenplay for The Rugrats Movie and co-wrote Rugrats in Paris, two of the highest grossing traditional animated features of all time.  The duo were co-writers on the Academy Award-nominated feature, Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius and received an Emmy nomination as head writers of the Rugrats series. A member of the Motion Picture Academy, David currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Writer’s Guild of America, West, after two terms as Vice-President.

I was drawn to the Insight festival because I love the notion of encouraging filmmakers to explore ideas and themes that centre on our pursuit of meaning and purpose in life.

Patron: Insight Festival

Deatra Harris

Deatra Harris is a screenwriter, producer and directorfrom Atlanta, Georgia. Deatra has co-produced a number of shorts and features, including the critically acclaimed feature Kinyarwanda, which won the World Cinema Award at the 27th Annual Sundance Festival. Deatra Harris holds a Bachelor of Arts in MIS/Mathematics from Bowling Green State University. She is in pre-production with her third short film, What About Us. Her new feature film, My Manz and ‘Em, is in development.

I believe film is such a beautiful and meaningful art form because it allows the filmmaker to give a voice to the voiceless, give perspective to a story, culture or issue that is typically skewed and it gives people from different races, religions and cultures an opportunity to peek into each others’ world. The Insight Film Festival gives the filmmakers the platform to expose their work and gives the audiences a place to come together for constructive, positive interaction and dialogue about religion and faith. I congratulate and support Insight Film Festival for being such a tremendous voice for the Interfaith communities and for taking such a huge step to bring the world closer together.

Patron: Insight Festival

Frank Cottrell Boyce

Frank Cottrell Boyce is a critically acclaimed, Award-winning author and screenwriter of film and television from Liverpool. His work includes Millions24 Hour Party People and Welcome to Sarajevo. He won the 2004 Carnegie Medal for Best Children’s Book published in the UK for the novelisation of Millions. Frank worked closely with director Danny Boyle to create the vision of Britain in the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics. Having collaborated with other directors, such as Michael Winterbottom, Anand Tucker and Alex Cox, Frank has been a key figure in the establishment of a successful British film industry.

The Insight Festival: People from all over the world, of every philosophy, talking about things that really matter.

Patron: Insight Festival

Fuad Nahdi

Fuad Nahdi is a pioneering journalist, commentator and campaigner. He is currently Director of Radical Middle Way and founding publisher of the Muslim Magazine, Q-News. Fuad has worked and contributed to media organisations from around the world, including Reuters,Los Angeles TimesArab NewsThe Nation, ABC News, Crescent International, Africa Events and BBC World Service.   Fuad’s work as a journalist has been sought after by many titles, including The EconomistThe Independent,The GuardianThe New York TimesThe New StatesmanArab NewsMail & Guardian (South Africa), BBC, Arabia MagazineAsahi Shimbun, Channel 4 and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Fuad’s contribution to community activism and interfaith work within the media spans over three decades, and has been widely recognised in the UK and across the Muslim world. For three successive years he was named one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims in a widely acclaimed survey by Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan.  His name has featured on the UK Muslim Power 100 list identifying the country’s Muslims who were making a profound contribution to British life and society.  Most recently Faud is the recipient of the 2012 Sternberg Foundation Interfaith Gold Medallion to honour a lifetime of work bringing communities of diverse faith together.

The combination of faith and film is natural and explosive. If faith is about the big stories, film is about sharing them. The Insight Film Festival is about facilitating much needed creative space where the divine, so to speak, meets the creative. The result can only be a more informed, engaging and respectful society. The emphasis on working with the young makes the Insight Film Festival an especially worthwhile organisation for all of us to invest in and support.

Patron: Insight Festival

Michael Wakelin

Michael Wakelin worked at the BBC for 23 years as researcher, producer and director in radio and television, culminating as Head of Religion and Ethics (2006-09). His production credits include the landmark BBC1 series Son of God, BBC2′s Cathedral CallsSongs of PraiseGood Morning Sunday and a several award-winning documentaries on BBC Radio 1 and 2. He is now Director of Coexist Programmes, Executive producer at TBI Media, Co-director of Like for Like Productions, and a Religion and Media Consultant, with a range of faith-based clients.

In order to create a better society we must learn to understand each others’ faiths and values. So let me give my fulsome backing to the purpose of this Festival.

Festival Director

John Forrest

John Forrest is the Founder and Director of the Insight Festival. In this capacity, he blogs at Insight Director. He has a long-running career in television and radio as a producer and director. Although his work has been broad in its range, he has found himself continually drawn to religious ideas. John’s staff roles have taken him from the production of BBC Radio 1 chat shows, through documentaries with the BBC educational television unit, to gigantic Outside Broadcasts for the BBC’s Songs of Praise. He has worked as a freelancer since 2001, and now enjoys a wide portfolio of media interests that includes broadcast, corporate and training activities.

In the 1990s I began mentoring young entrants to the film industry. I met one young camera assistant with a strong faith who noticed my background and wanted to talk about how little encouragement he got from industry colleagues. It mirrored my own experience. At the same time, all around us, anyone who cared to could see the obvious need to explore, discuss and understand ideas about faith. We discussed film festivals and how important they are to young filmmakers who need an audience to progress their careers. We began to dream about the possibilities. I talked the idea around with some of my professional friends and media contacts, and the Insight Festival began.

Board Member and Head of Shortlist Committee

David Butler

David Butler is a senior lecturer in Screen Studies at the University of Manchester and is the author of Jazz Noir (2002) and Fantasy Cinema: Impossible Worlds on Screen (2009). His research interests include film music, film noir, literary adaptations, non-naturalistic cinema/television and ‘the fantastic’ on screen.

What excites me most about the Insight Festival is the opportunity it provides for young filmmakers to explore topics that do not tend to receive much broadcast time in the UK. I’d felt for a while that many of the talented young people that I was fortunate to work with did not have an outlet for more contemplative and questioning films; in order to succeed in the UK screen industries then, they often seemed to be under pressure to make fast-paced, kinetic music videos, established genre pieces and…well… formula, however well-made. What I hope the Insight Festival will encourage is films of integrity and creativity that are socially engaged and imaginative in their approach. The last thing the Festival is intended to be, for me, is a showcase for religious recruitment videos – but what I hope it will do is offer a forum for young people to question and enlighten, through the combination of sound and image, whether critiquing faith or championing it.

Board Member and Financial Adviser

Michael Harvey

Michael Harvey is a founding team member of Back to Church Sunday and has, in this capacity, spoken to thousands of church leaders across five continents. Back to Church Sunday takes place in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Wales and the United States. Michael’s vision for Back to Church is to mobilise 1 million people to invite 1 million friends back into a relationship with God.

I support Insight because in a world that seeks to diminish the importance of faith, Insight gives an opportunity for people to discuss faith through the medium of film.

Board Member and Financial Adviser

Iain Jennions

Iain Jennions developed his accountancy career at Grant Thornton before taking a break to study International Business and Spanish in Salamanca, Spain.  He is now a director of his own practice Jennions Macken Limited. He helps to provide an independent financial overview for Insight, and assists the Director and coordinator with budgeting and providing a financial framework to allow Insight to deliver a successful, cost-effective event in line with its funding.

Board Member

Johannes Sjöberg

Johannes Sjöberg is a lecturer in Screen Studies at the University of Manchester with a professional background in acting and ethnographic film-making. Specialising in screen practice as research, Johannes is interested primarily in the ethnographic aspects of faith-related films (especially documentaries), drawing on community-based filmmaking and exhibition as a catalyst for cultural dialogue. Johannes oversees the shortlisting process and the scheduling of the Insight Festival film programme.

Board Member

Jay Singh-Sohal

Jay Singh-Sohal is a television journalist and independent film maker. His independent films include  Sikhs At War, an online series and Turbanology: After 7/7, which bring the Sikh story to mainstream audiences. The latter project developed into a touring UK Arts Council exhibition with research published as a book which offering a comprehensive history of the development of Sikh identity. As an expert on matters of faith and identity, Jay regularly appears in international media outlets talking about his independent work. He has contributed to BBC films including 1984: A Sikh Story in 2009 and The Story of the Turban in 2012.  In his day job, Jay is Producer withSky News television in a dynamic and busy international news environment.  His has package-produced stories ranging from the Arab Uprisings in 2011 through to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012.  He also outputs live television news from the gallery, making key executive decisions and regularly breaking news. He has a passion for politics and takes great pride in serving his country in the Army Reserves.

 

Board Member

Abdul-Rehman Malik

Abdul-Rehman Malik is a London-based journalist, educator and organiser. He is currently programmes manager for the Radical Middle Way, the forward-thinking, mainstream Muslim,community interest company. Radical Middle Way works alongside grassroots partners around the world to provide powerful, faith-inspired guidance that gives tools to enable change, promote social justice for all, and combat exclusion and violence. Over the past four years, Abdul-Rehman has managed RMW’s international work in Sudan, Indonesia and Pakistan, which reached millions of people through media campaigns and over 100,000 people through face-to-face engagements. An experienced journalist and commentator, he is regular contributor to the BBC in the UK and to the BBC World Service’s Weekendprogramme. His BBC radio essay Faith and 9/11 won major awards  for excellence in broadcasting about religion His documentary, Islam Without God, which explored the increasingly public declarations of disbelief by a younger generation of born Muslims, was broadcast in February 2013 and won the Silver Medal in Religious Programmes category at the 2013 New York Festivals Global Radio Awards.

Festival 4 Coordinator

Rebecca Padley

Becky Padley is a Drama and Screen Studies graduate from the University of Manchester who was the Festival Coordinator for the 4th Insight Festival. She has worked at Hat Trick television production company and as a volunteer at the BFI. Having operated behind the scenes in film and television, Becky appreciates the dedication and passion it takes to make a film.

I wanted to be able to put my love of film to good use and work for something that had a purpose. Insight is such an exciting festival as it invites filmmakers and audiences from a multitude of backgrounds, puts them into one room, and gets them to discuss faith and belief, all in the name of film. Film is such a powerful medium, and it’s great to have a festival dedicated to utilising that power. It gives people a platform to speak up and discuss the topics that so desperately need to be talked about.

Festival 4 Development Officer

Richard Benda

Richard Benda served on the Insight team as Development Officer for Festival 4. Having lived in Manchester for over 10 years, Richard returned to his native Rwanda recently, to investigate to opportunities of expanding the Insight Festival into Africa. Having completed a PhD in Theology and Political Thought at the University of Manchester, Richard’s role with Insight was to secure financial sustainability through the development and funding of the Festival.

I love films and I am very interested in faith, both in its practical and conceptual dimensions. I am particularly interested in exploring the intersection between faith and socio-political life. Joining Insight is a great opportunity to see how this interaction is portrayed though films by younger generations from different walks of life.

Festival 5 Assistant

Ting Wang (Lexi)

While studying for her Masters degree in Intercultural Communication at the University of Manchester, Ting Wang (known as Lexi) is working for the Insight team as Festival Assistant for Festival 5. Originally from Mainland China, Ting graduated in Sports Journalism from Shanghai University of Sport before working for one year as an event assistant in an Italian Company. She also had experience as an intern director in the Shanghai Television Station during her Bachelor degree. Interested in intercultural interactions, Lexi decided to pursue further knowledge in the cultural field, trying to understand the similarities and differences in the contexts of living in various regions.

Working with the Insight Film Festival is an exciting experience for me. When I first visited the website, the idea of ‘faith’ at the heart of Insight raised my interest. What is the definition of ‘faith’? Religion? Belief? An attitude towards life? I think there are a variety of answers for this question, which depends on different cultures. I am motivated to seek the answers to these questions for myself and others. Meanwhile, working for Insight is the first time I have tried to work in an entirely intercultural environment. I believe it will help me to find out the real meaning of Intercultural Communication as it relates to my Master’s degree.

Festival 5 Assistant

Miranda Antoniou

Miranda Antoniou is a postgraduate student at the University of Manchester, studying an MA in Translation and Interpreting Studies. She graduated from Queen Mary University of London from a BA degree in Hispanic Studies and Portuguese, during which she was given the opportunity to study abroad. She spent this time stuying in Coimbra, Portugal, and in Seville, Spain. Miranda has also studied Italian at the Instituto Michelangelo in Florence, Italy.

I am extremely interested in film and in experiencing different cultures, so I am very excited to join the team working as a festival assistant for the 5th Insight Film Festival.

Editor

Christopher Norris

Christopher Norris joined the Insight team after Festival 4 as editor, to keep the existing website fresh and relevant, to energise the social media presence, to build networks and online relationships with people interested in ‘film’ and ‘faith’, and to contribute towards preparing for Insight’s online future. Chris started his media career in book publishing at Letts Education, before building a portfolio of skills and experience in web media (e.g.StoryCode.com), television (e.g. Real World Pictures; Mike Mansfield TV, You’re Booked!, LWT; Creative Media Marketing Ltd) and trade publishing (e.g. Pollinger LtdWorld Book Day). Chris runs the editorial services consultancy, CopyGhosting.com. You can contact Chris by email: editor@insightfestival.co.uk

I’m excited to be part of Insight at a time when the Festival is reaching out across the world to make new connections and to enable more filmmakers to share their stories on a global platform. I’m enthusiastic about making Insight’s web presence and social media platforms active hubs, full of life and buzz. I’m keen to hear from people who share the vision and have ideas to share about Insight’s online presence.

 

HOLLYWOOD BECKONS FOR AWARD WINNING YOUNG MANCHESTER FILMMAKER

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Harriet Edwards, a second-year student of filmmaking at Manchester Metropolitan University has won a dream opportunity to work with a Hollywood production company.

Harriet was selected out of students from across the North of England who entered films into a pilot competition mounted by the Insight Film Festival. She has been awarded an expenses-paid trip to Hollywood including a six-week internship with Loyola Productions Inc., an award-winning company based in the heart of the movie industry in Culver City, Los Angeles. She will travel out just before the 2014 American Independence Day celebrations and will have a few days to enjoy the festivities before starting her internship.

Students were invited to make a film on the subject of ‘faith’. They were encouraged to interpret the subject in any way they wished, irrespective of their own background or beliefs. Harriet chose to film a personalised interpretation of a Biblical psalm. Harriet said ‘I took the opportunity to express how I see the world. It’s to do with self-discovery and finding yourself – and trying to find a voice.’

Entries for Insight Awards are judged by experienced and high-profile media figures. The panel for the Student Film Award included Usman Mullan of the BBC Writer’s Room North and Fr Tim Byron of Manchester University’s Catholic Chaplaincy, one of the competition’s sponsors. During the process, entrants were given an opportunity to pick up tips from a workshop conducted by award-winning screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce. Having submitted films or scripts, three finalists were invited to be interviewed in a live link-up with Hollywood.

Festival Director, John Forrest said ‘We’re delighted that Harriet has won this award amongst such tough competition. I expect her internship could be an amazing boost to a filmmaking career.’ Insight hopes to roll out the competition nationally in future.

Since 2007 the Insight Film Festival has been encouraging the making of films around the unusual and sometimes controversial subject of ‘faith. It is supported by people from across the world from all faiths and none and is increasingly establishing a global reputation. Its next competition is run in conjunction with the United Nations Association of Civilizations.

Attachment caption: Photograph of Harriet Edwards

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Email: team@insightfestival.co.uk

Insight Film Festival   Z-arts, 335 Stretford Road, Hulme, Manchester M15 5ZA

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Insight Film Festival launches Curation Scheme for films about faith

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The Insight Film Festival's Curation Scheme provides new opportunities for filmmakers’ work to be screened.

Insight puts out a ‘call for entries’ once a new Festival is to be launched and appropriate awards have been negotiated and agreed with partners and sponsors.

However we are continually receiving films from filmmakers who relate to our theme of ‘faith’ even when no Festival is advertised. Filmmakers are, understandably keen for their films to be seen – and we share their enthusiasm.

The intention of the Insight Festival is to encourage filmmakers to consider faith as an important topic in filmmaking. We encourage those from all faith backgrounds and none to explore this key area of life.

Over the years since we began, we have become connected with a large number of interested parties around the world, such as film production companies, film festivals, conferences and academic institutions. These organisations are increasingly asking to recommend or ‘pass on’ films for their screenings.

So we have begun our Festival Curation Scheme. We want this to enhance our own screenings whilst helping filmmakers to receive screenings on a wider, global basis. Please read and follow the Rules of the Scheme to find out how to get involved and learn the practicalities involved.

Filmmakers can use our online entry form to their films. We look forward to receiving some great films for the Curation Scheme

Let's Get Yeshey to New York City

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Dear FilmFestivals.com readers,
20141002085821-yeshey___3___.jpg?1412265501
Our latest Insight Film Festival initiative is to get Yeshey Namgyal (a Bhutanese award-winning filmmaker) to New York City, to receive the prestigious PLURAL+ Insight Award 2014 in person.
We have entered the last few days of raising money for an Indiegogo campaign to raise money for this to happen.
 

Worldwide response has been incredible … but we still need to raise over GBP £2000.

Please watch Yeshey's remarkable, life-affirming film (My Paralympic Dream, 4 minutes long). 
 
We hope that the PR we generate through our campaign will enable many people to see Yeshey's film - online, in education and through screenings - and that momentum will build so that Pema's Paralympic dream can come true.
 
Please would you spread the word about our campaign around your networks. In the next 24 hours invite 5 friends or contacts to visit the site as well - or share it through Twitter and Facebook.
 
We have now published the transcript for the film in 15 world languages, available in this Update message. People in your network who speak one of these languages may enjoy reading the transcript in their native tongue.
 
Every GBP £1.00 will really help our cause. But please notice we’ve added a new perk for GBP £25.00. 
 
Please give what you can and encourage other people to do likewise. 

Sorry to bombard you ... time is very short.

Let’s get Yeshey to New York City!

Kindest regards,
 
Chris
 
CHRISTOPHER NORRIS
Editor and Development Executive
Insight Film Festival
"Faith in Film"
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Invitation: Special screening event at NYU (December 5, 2014)

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FAO: filmmakers, students and film-lovers in New York City

The Insight Film Festival would like to invite you to a special screening of award-winning short films and Q&A discussion with an expert panel.
 
This event is taking place from 6.00 p.m. on December 5. 2014, at Theater 006, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, New York University (Address: 721 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 <see map>). 
 
Full details of this free event can be found in two places: 
 
1. a news item on the Insight Festival website; or
2. at our Eventbrite landing page for the event:
We would be delighted to welcome you to our screening. Theater 006 at NYU has spaces for 70 people so please book early to avoid disappointment.
 
If you have any questions about the event, please email Insight's Festival Assistant, Lexi Ting Wang at: lexi@insightfestival.co.uk.
 
Kindest regards,

Chris

CHRISTOPHER NORRIS
Editor and Development Executive
Insight Film Festival
"Faith in Film"
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PLURAL+ Insight Award 2014: 
winner, Yeshey Namgyal http://bit.ly/NYCYeshey
commended, Kayf Abdulqadir http://bit.ly/PIKayf
 
Insight Film Festival curation scheme: http://bit.ly/IFFcuration

 

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Winning films announced: PLURAL+ Insight 2014

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The Insight Film Festival is delighted to announce the winning and runner-up entries for the PLURAL+ Insight Award 2014, which will be formally presented at an awards ceremony in New York City on 4 December 2014 (see attached press releases).
 
The Insight Film Festival - based in Manchester, England - encourages filmmakers to make films that address the theme of faith. 
 
The PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival (hosted by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the International Organisation for Migration) invites the world’s youth to submit original and creative videos less than 4 minutes long that focus on the themes: migration, diversity and social inclusion.
 
The PLURAL+ Insight Award rewards the best film that encompasses elements of faith, migration, diversity and social inclusion.

Please read the attached press releases, watch the winning and runner-up films and consider covering our news on your respective websites, to encourage young filmmakers to enter the competition in 2015.

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Student Filmmaker Award > UK students could win 6-week Hollywood internship

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Here is an opportunity for ‪UK students... but, hurry, the deadline is 7 May 2015

INSIGHT FILM FESTIVAL ~ Student Filmmaker Award 2015

Are you a current student? Are you making a short film? Does it relate to the theme “The Truth is Out There. Have Faith!”?

Would you like to win a lifehack prize to give your future career in film a head start?

If so, enter the Student Filmmaker Award 2015 by midnight, 7 May 2015 to win a six-week, expenses-paid, filmmaking internship with a Hollywood film production company.

For full entry details, visit the Student Filmmaker Award 2015 microsite at: http://bit.ly/SFAward2015

 

 

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Invitation > Shooting the Truth (free screening at Rich Mix, London)

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The Insight Film Festival cordially invites you to "Shooting the Truth", an evening of Insight award-winning short films (from the UK and around the world) and Q&A discussion at 7.30 pm on 20 October 2015 at Rich Mix in Bethnal Green, London. Admission is free. (Rich Mix programme page | tickets | map)

Insight Film Festival Opens Call for Entries for 2011 Festival

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INSIGHT FILM FESTIVAL CALL FOR ENTRIES NOW OPEN!

 

Insight is an international film festival with a focus onFaith, calling upon filmmakers to use faith as a topic. Films about any faith are welcome, made by people of all faiths and none. The next Insight Festival will take place in November 2011 in Manchester and London, UK and will be streamed live across the web.

 

 By entering the festival your film may be viewed by some high profile industry professionals and you could win some amazing prizes

 

Festival Judges

Insight Festival are excited to announce a glittering judging panel of industry professionals which includes: Academy Award nominated Hollywood producer Gary Kurtz (Star Wars, American Graffiti); Emmy winning Hollywood ScreenwriterDavid Weiss (Shrek 2); BBC Head of Diversity, Amanda Rice and freelance film journalist and Editor-at-Large for Empire Magazine, Nev Pierce.

Awards and Prizes

If your film is chosen by our judges for a Festival Award you could win one of our amazing prizes:

- £1000 cash (The Coexist Award)

- The chance to sit on an International Festival Jury (The SIGNIS Award)

- An expenses paid summer at EICAR International Film School in Paris (The Insight Award)

Best of all: Entry is Free!

 

How to Enter

Go towww.InsightFestival.co.uk to fill out our online entry form, then mail us a DVD of your film.

Films MUST be on the topic of FAITH. Maximum length 30 minutes. Entrants must be over 18.

Early Deadline 7 March 2011

Final Deadline 7 July 2011


Young Filmmakers Competition 2014





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