Shorting out in Soho

NEVER mind the full-length feature, it's shorts that distinguish the men from the boys. We are talking films, of course, as opposed to fashion. Though sometimes it is hard to tell the difference, so close have the two fields become in hip ascendancy.

Over the past few years, the explosion of production in British feature films has occurred often at the expense of quality. Time and again, films have been rushed willy-nilly onto the screen without due care and attention, resulting in the series of cinematic car crashes that typified last year's output.

The short-film form not only allows for greater preparatory thought and technical discipline it actually demands it.

Working "in littel", miniaturist moviemakers must ensure that every facet of their potential work is in place and properly structured before they begin filming.

Having been invited to adjudicate the Newcomer award for the third Rushes Soho Shorts Festival, several things became clear as I did my duty.

Technically, most of the films I saw were of a very high standard.

Secondly, it was immediately evident which filmmakers are utilising commercial models (many of them look like well-tailored commercials, auditions for advertisements) and which ones are driven by pure artistry.

Then there was the small tendency which opted for the humorous payoff, constructing a film entirely around a

well-worn joke, and those who attempted to create a feature-film atmosphere in under 10 minutes. As always, animated entries made a powerful contribution.

The 850 entries in this year's competition have been whittled down to short lists in the five categories: the Artsworld Short Film, Discreet Newcomer, Wam!Net Animation, ITK Music Video, and Titles and Idents - a selection which covers every base from commercial design through to the wilder shores of progressive film-making.

While the Curzon Soho will operate as the festival mother-ship, short-listed films will also be screened at the Atlantic Bar, Soho House, Alphabet Bar, The Freedom Brewery, Metro Cinema and other venues. Further information and a festival pack are available from the Curzon Cinema. In an accelerated

world, grabbing a couple of good short films can be just as satisfying as sitting through a full-length movie. And for once, nobody has to worry about their diminishing levels of concentration.

A short attention span is all you need.

* Rushes Soho Shorts Festival, 28 July-3 August.

Call 020 7851 6207 or visit www.sohoshorts.com

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