Inaugural 'International Celebration of Cinema' Filmmaking Contest

A film festival and awards competition for independent filmmakers, set to celebrate movies from around the globe in rural south-west England just after the New Year was nearly cancelled in the face of bad weather and serious flooding near the venue.

The film festival called ‘The International Celebration of Cinema’, held at Abbeydale Sports and Community Centre on Monday 6th January 2025, was close to being cancelled with organisers eventually deciding to continue with the event.

The Environment Agency issued a number of flood warnings for the area in the days leading up to the film festival, with heavy rains causing the partial closure of the M5 motorway and A40, as well as many other much smaller roads and rural lanes.

One of the organisers of 'The International Celebration of Cinema', Paul Cowmeadow said: “The weather was against us, and getting to the venue wasn’t easy. We had to take several diversions and a lot of local roads were completely flooded.

“We saw six vehicles trapped in deep flood water on one road – where their drivers had been a bit too ambitious!

“But once we got to the venue everything went well, the facilities were good and the screenings were intimate.”

The ‘International Celebration of Cinema’ is a global competition for independent filmmakers from all over the world, with prizes in a range of categories including; Best Documentary, Best Movie, Best Director and Best Student Film.

The films screened at the film festival included selections from the UK, as well as from France and Portugal, with the Audience Choice Award which is voted for in-person by attendees of the event, being picked up by British filmmaker James Atkins for his short film ‘The Promise Goblin’, a creepy and comedic Christmas-themed flick about a descendent of Krampus, the pointy-tongued, cloven-hooved, beast-like creature from the folklore of Alpine countries. On the win, James Atkins said: “Thanks to all who voted for our film, it’s appreciated.

"I would also like to thank Stephen Sheridan who plays Krampus, and Patrick Kealey who plays Santa Claus. As well as Simon Woodward who designed the poster.

"All the cast and crew did great job."

The antagonist of 'The Promise Goblin' is described in the following terms: "...a nightmare-made-flesh who punishes bad children during the Yule season. He works in the ‘Promises’ section of The Naughty List and, when he finds out that Santa has delivered presents to naughty and nice children, he hunts down the badly behaved children… as there "need to be consequences"."

The other films screened included a charming animated short from France about prehistoric gunslingers (dinosaurs resembling cowboys from the American Wild West) in 'The Last Gunfight ...Yet!' directed by Pablo Tréhin-Marçot.

There was also a dramatic short film with sci-fi flavours from Portugal titled 'The End Was Just The Beginning' ('O Fim era Apenas o Início' in its original language), directed by filmmaker António Aleixo, the synopsis for which reads: "When Catarina finds out that she is pregnant, she questions the responsibility and consequences of bringing a child into this world and age".

With free popcorn and soft drinks provided to attendees, and with certificate presentations for winning filmmakers, the event organisers are committed to celebrating the work of independent filmmakers, and making a cinema-like experience more accessible for rural communities. They are set to bring the competition back to the area next year, but are hoping for much better weather, otherwise they may be offering free unbrellas next time instead of popcorn!