Got a minute? Watch a movie.

“One Mobile, One Minute, One Film” is the motto of the international Mobile Film Festival, but you don’t need a mobile to screen these 50 one minute films. Now in its 13th year, a panel of experts have winnowed down the top 50 entries from among hundreds submitted from aspiring filmmakers the world over. Until February 27 you can watch all 50 and vote on your favorites…and enter a contest to win prizes, too. Information, the films and voting info can be found here.

The widespread, egalitarian technology used by all participants give the Festival a unique flavor. You may find some of them preachy or with a PSA-like feel, but you’ll still be amazed by how much can be packed into a compelling narrative in just one minute and shot on a cellphone, like this amusing look at a common dilemma, “Come Dine with me….or not”:

Thinking of entering next year? Keep an eye on the festival website here, the call for submissions usually open in early November and close in early January. The Festival showings for the public take place in late January through late February. This is one of nine mobile film festivals, so if you feel inspired to use that cellphone camera for more than videos of friends, pets or special events, take a look at the options here.

Lights, Camera….ACTION!

COMMENTS

3 responses to “Got a minute? Watch a movie.”

I might find short films interesting, but with all due respect, watching video of any length on a tiny smartphone screen is a form of punishment. Even the biggest smartphone screen is tough to see, and holding the device for any duration is similarly uncomfortable. That’s precisely why Netflix itself reports that 70% of all its streams end up on connected television sets, NOT on phones, tablets or PC’s. Only my grandchildren think watching content on a phone is an enjoyable activity. Then again, a one-minute video can be managed as I drink my coffee in the morning.

Reply to James

Among the reasons not to use a cellphone is “Shortened lifespan of smartphone and SD-memory card, because smartphones are not build to record video none stop, it might break at any moment, if you are unlucky, it might break when you needed it the most. However, my experience with dashcam”s is that they also have relatively short lifespans (from a few months to maybe a couple of years at the most) and when they fail, it”s their DVR (recording) component that fails – and the driver doesn”t know this without trying to play back recent video. My current dashcam ( my fifth in the last six years ) is failing intermittently and did not record the last two of the last three incidents I witnessed this month. // I can”t help but wonder if the durability of a cellphone is any worse than a dashcam”s.

Reply to Framalang