UPDATE: The screening was previously stated as 3pm but it is now 5pm. See the full programme of films HERE for their "Showcase Programme" that the film is in.

Howdy! I haven't blogged in ages as I've been intensively moving house and setting up shop, but pretty much back on track now AND... I'm pleased to announce that I just got word a few days ago that The Next Room (the third in my Videos For Artists web series) will screen tomorrow as part of the 5th DocFilm Festival 2014. The screening will takes place at the Doc Media Centre (Highcross, Leicester) 8th November at 5pm as a part of a larger programme showing 11am to 7pm. There is a big array of things going on, with the entirety of November being Documentary Media Month. Well worth a look and a privelege to be a part of! Sadly I can't attend the screening but wish the festival and wider event the best of luck.

The Next Room is a short documentary that casts a wandering eye on a group of artists as they prepare for their installation performance within the Pit Theatre at London's bustling creative nucleus the Barbican Centre. Le Collectif International des Improvisateurs is made up of performers, musicians, technicians, dancers and everything in between. An eclectic, unsuspecting audience will walk through the door into The Next Room. Check out the group's brand new website.

If you're on Twitter, keep up to speed with my work and interact with me @PaulEVernon. I will soon be releasing my new dance film Branches & Bones that I made in Denmark and would love you to see it. Sincerely, thanks for reading!

The British Film Institute held its annual 'Future Film Festival' from the 21st to 23rd of February for people aged 15-25 looking to progress in areas of the film industry. It's divided into Fiction, Animation and Documentary over three days. Held at the BFI Southbank in London, visitors are treated to: masterclasses, Q&As, workshops and screenings all geared towards helping attendees progress in their respective field. I entered a competition on Twitter to be a part of it and was selected by DOGWOOF (a fore-running DVD distributor of excellent documentaries) for two tickets to attend the Documentary Day.

When I arrived at the BFI, there was a really great energy in the air from people, a buzz from the festival. In the morning, I attended an IdeasTap presentation about breaking into the documentary industry, with a panel made up of accomplished filmmakers Katrina Mansoor and Tristan Anderson. I thought this was a useful talk and had a solid unpatronising vibe which resonated with me. They talked a lot about the personal side of making films and how it affects normal life. Of course, they're things I am (and I'm sure others are) sorely aware of. Though a reiteration from persons deep in the industry is a reassuring statement as someone like myself adjusts and moves forward through inevitable difficulty that can affect self-esteem and motivation. I talked to Tristan after the session about my work and he was really pleasant to talk to. He invited me to submit to his own screening/network night as an opportunity for me, the well-known DocHeads.

The second session was presented by Hussain Currimbhoy, a programmer of Sheffield Doc/Fest. I really enjoyed this Prezi rundown of a (brief) history of documentary film. It encompassed many theories, styles and international works into a tight schedule that moved from the dawn of film chronologically to modern day. Considering the 2 hours or less he had, I was very impressed at the scope of it! I came away with new films I'd jotted down to watch and a re-appreciation of many others.

Sadly, the third session didn't take place. Call in Sherlock, because the speaker who was going to talk about funding myths disappeared... If anyone knows what happened and why, I'd love to know?! Apparently he just walked away. Perhaps he felt inspired? Perhaps I'm being overly optimistic? Haha, it was shame but oh well, I was left with more time to delve into the BFI Shop a.k.a. The Abyss of Treasures. I'd been dying to go in there all day and it was a real treat, as I'd assumed. The shop contained masses of cinema and no less than the whole libraries of my favourite DVD labels: MASTERS OF CINEMA, ARROW VIDEO and BFI DVD. It felt like Toys R' Us in the 90s. Absolutely amazing.

Referencing from earlier, check out IDEASTAP if you haven't done so already. I met my collaborator for THE BODY CANVAS on the site and it's a valuable resource for artists/filmmakers in terms of connecting, funds and networking.

Thanks for reading about my time at the Future Film Festival and THANK YOU Dogwoof for selecting me for the Documentary Day tickets. It was much appreciated!

Follow Me On Twitter @PaulEVernon & Check These Guys Out!:
DOGWOOF >  @dogwoof
IDEASTAP >  @IdeasTap / @IdeasTapJobs
DOCHEADS >  @DocHeads
BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE >  @BFI
MASTERS OF CINEMA >  @mastersofcinema
ARROW VIDEO >  @ArrowFilmsVideo

My short documentary A FILM BY ABIGAIL screened on the 10th of January 2014 in the official selection for the 11th London Short FIlm Festival as a part of LO-BUDGET MAYHEM at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA, London). According to LSFF it was: "a programme that was specially selected by the LSFF team showcasing 29 out-there gems in just over 100 minutes" and it was a pleasure for me to be a part of. Being selected for a festival of this calibre was my goal throughout 2013, so this is a very satisfying start to the year and I thank the festival for screening the film. The idea to have five minute max, low-budget works entered for free through an alternative submission, with an aim to find hidden obscure shorts that may otherwise not receive exposure; was inspired and welcome. I'm infinitely grateful they had the foresight to try this for their sough-after festival and grateful for the help it will give me as a filmmaker and a director.

Fresh screenings could be on the horizon too. The BAFTA-recognised festival, priding itself on helping filmmakers and their work, asked to have a video link to the film for potential forwarding to other events/festivals/institutions for future programming. This is an incredibly exciting added bonus to an already excellent film festival that holds networking opportunities and workshops, as well as it's individually curated selections of solely British short films.

A FILM BY ABIGAIL is a short documentary about a child discussing an idea for a film she wishes to create. Recently it was a part of the official selection at the 9th LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL (screening at the prolific Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and was award nominated in the RNC Special Selection at the THIS IS ENGLAND - ENGLISH SHORT FILM FESTIVAL OF ROUEN. Read more about the film and myself in the interview/article FUTURE FILMMAKERS conducted by Leeds-List.

I can also partially announce that another screening is likely taking place overseas in Denmark! Watch this space for more info on this soon... Follow the progress of the rest of the London Short Film Festival (on until the 19th across the capital) on Twitter @LSFF and to keep up-to-date or chat, follow me @PaulEVernon

My short documentary A FILM BY ABIGAIL is a part of the Official Selection for the 9th LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL and screens Saturday 14th of December... tomorrow! The film opens 'PROGRAM C: Short films for ages 5 and older' at 1pm comprised of "films from around the world" (full schedule here) at the spectacular LA COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART in the Brown Auditorium. Current exhibitions include David Hockney, Agnes Varda and Alexander Calder. It's an honour to have my work shown (as briefly as it'll be!) in such an amazing place that displays well-known contemporary art and where lovingly curated retrospectives take place; such as the recent Stanley Kubrick one that was in the summer.

As well as the screening, there's been a few bonuses due to the film's selection. The first is that it's production image, described as "striking" by the festival press team, has been chosen to feature on the LACMA website representing it's film block and also for the entire festival on the NexGenLACMA Facebook page (see both below!). Also, I've been requested to submit to the 'Academy Qualifying" event the NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL that takes place in March 2014. It's the biggest of it's kind in North America and a well established event mentioned in publications such as Variety and The New York Times (see the NYICFF About page). The jury even includes world class filmmaker Gus Van Sant! They were forwarded the film by the LA festival and I've been told they can't wait to show the committee my film! Hopefully, and maybe, good news from this aspect soon. Even if not selected for NYICFF, I feel very flattered to be approached!

A FILM BY ABIGAIL is in the Official Selection for the 11th LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL in January and around this time my interview with the GORILLA FILM MAGAZINE will be published, where I talk about the film in-depth. Thanks for reading, "liking" and sharing the blog wherever you see it - as a developing filmmaker it's invaluable to have your support!

Interact on Twitter with those I've mentioned in the blog:
9th Los Angeles International Children's Festival >  @LAChildrensFilmFest
LA County Museum of Art >  @LACMA
New York International Children's Film Festival >  @NYICFF
London Short Film Festival >  @LSFF
Gorilla Film Magazine >  @GorillaFilmMag

Coming off the heels of A FILM BY ABIGAIL being shown in New York City, I'm pleased to announce that the film is also now slated to be playing a lot closer to home, where I currently live in Royston (Hertfordshire) at the Royston Arts Festival 2013. The film will be followed by a 'Q&A' and ending with the premiere of my experimental film DV45. I'm very pleased that the festival wants to include DV45, as it's a film that's been hard to place; discovering platforms which are appropriate or risk-worthy has been difficult. It's request to be included in the proceedings has felt like an achievement in itself, not to mention the 20-30 minute slot that my time at the festival is currently scheduled for.

The theme of the 2013 festival is "small world" and I believe that these films lend themselves to a program that is reflecting that. The two films are very different, but I've realised that they perhaps have a strong connection? I produced both of them quite close together, in an MA module that was encouraging experimentation and they each take place in only one location; at my childhood home in Leicestershire and the other at my then current home in Leeds. Was I studying my very own "small world" through the films? If so, they are an absolute microcosm of the actual world - hardly even a grain of sand in the desert perhaps. Even so, I think I've discovered a little more about what I made with these notions.

Follow me on Twitter @paul00vernon 
Follow the Royston Arts Festival @RoyArtsFest

UPDATE:
The time for the screening is 3:55pm at Greneway School and it's free to enter. I'll also be making a video of highlights for the festival and judging the music entries to accompany it.
CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE HERE

I'm delighted to announce that my short documentary A FILM BY ABIGAIL will be screening in New York City in 2013! The news came to me from the EPIPHANY CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL  last week.

The festival is curated and ran by The Epiphany School and it features live-action short films, animation and documentary that is not only suitable but aimed at young children as an audience.

It's important to highlight that the film is sadly not In Competition at the festival but will be screened as Out Of Competition to the pupil's of the school "in filmmaking classes throughout the year as a way to show students what current filmmakers are creating". The film will be alongside other films of merit that didn't succeed in finding a slot for competing at the festival but did enough to impress the judges to gain a place in the school's "art curriculum" (and that's another direct quote!) ... Yes you've read correctly (I had to re-read when they told me), the film will be one of a series of works to be screened to expose the minds of kids in New York to the many forms of international cinema! That's pretty crazy and very flattering - it more than makes up for what was essentially a rejection! And because of this good news, I've also created a new poster, debuting above.

To keep up to date with my work, you can follow me on Twitter: @paul00vernon

The film has previously screened at BAFTA London, Bradford International Film Festival (Filmmakers' Weekend) and was a part of the Official Selection at the SLEEPWALKERS International Student & Short Film Festival (a part of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival). There is a lot in the pipeline for more potential platforms for the film and I hope to deliver more news soon about A FILM BY ABIGAIL - a film that doesn't stop surprising me.

If you're interested or happen to be living in Estonia... A FILM BY ABIGAIL (2011) is scheduled for the Thursday 15th of November 18:00 slot ("STUDENT FILM COMPETITION: THIRD PROGRAMME") at the BFM New Cinema, Tallinn. On inspection, there are only fourteen other films filling the student category, making the competition tight. In addition, A FILM BY ABIGAIL (2011) has been requested to be included in the leaving package that's given to festival representatives & filmmakers visiting the SLEEPWALKERS event, to show examples & highlights of the films they've seen.

The other categories at SLEEPWALKERS, from the 12th - 15th November, featured alongside the student films are INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM, BALTIC SEA, ESTONIAN FILMS & the TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY RETROSPECTIVE.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SLEEPWALKER PROGRAMME (15th Nov.):
http://www.swff.ee/screening/short-film-competition-1/

Also, I've been informed that the films in competition at the Chicago VivaDoc student documentary festival will be revealed in the next one to two weeks on their website for another successful submission: http://www.colum.edu/vivadocinternational/

Fingers crossed...

I am very happy to announce that today I have been informed A FILM BY ABIGAIL (2011) has been selected to be screened at the international SLEEPWALKERS STUDENT & SHORT FILM FESTIVAL. This will be the short film's international premiere and in addition it will be in competition for the Grand Prix prize of the event.

According to the competition programme, the event "...takes the cream of short films from the best and most renowned film schools from all corners of the globe." Alongside A FILM BY ABIGAIL (2011) the festival plays host to films from countries such as Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Russia & Sweden competing in various categories. The festival is being held in Tallinn, Estonia from 12th - 15th of November; it is the only festival of it's type in the country, dedicated to internationals shorts. This is very exciting news for what it is but also that it may to help it get accepted by other festivals around the world too. Until Nov 5th, when the official programme is published online, I have no idea how many films have been selected or how many documentaries are among them - there is a Best Documentary award (found from researching other years of the event), so fingers crossed that the film charms the audience and stands up to the other work in it's category to be a contender for that.

A FILM BY ABIGAIL (2011) is a short documentary film about a young girl creating and explaining a story for a film she hopes to make.To learn more about A FILM BY ABIGAIL (2011), a profile page is on my site HERE

To read more about the SLEEPWALKERS festival, check out their website here: http://www.swff.ee