Short of the Week
What do M&M’S chocolates and films have in common? I personally like them as a cinema snack (I put them in the popcorn bag). Delicious!
Leveraging its global reach and supporting the brand’s wider purpose initiatives, M&M’S has been fashioning itself as a patron of filmmakers in recent years with a keen eye toward supporting young talents who can bring a fresh and diverse perspective to the industry.
Initiatives like #FilmsYouWantToSee have seen the brand support the creation of short films at a grassroots level, and yesterday they announced “The M&M’S Short Film Festival” a new contest with the aim of “allowing aspiring filmmakers to access mentorship and funding to reach their film career goals.”
Monique Needham’s Sunday Dinner resulted from an M&M’S contest and is playing festivals now.
The initiative was created following research showing that ‘difficulty in accessing funding’ and ‘lack of mentorship’ are some of the biggest obstacles faced by filmmakers in the UK.
Interested talents should apply along with a trailer concept for a film idea based on the theme of belonging, community, and acceptance. Three filmmakers will be invited to produce that trailer in a 72-hour “hackathon” with the guidance of seasoned industry mentors as well as funding to cover expenses associated with the competition. With this initiative, M&M’S aims to push diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in the entertainment industry, regardless of people’s background.
The trailers will be screened online and a public-selected winner will receive a £25,000 cash prize, as well as ongoing mentorship to support their filmmaking.
To apply, you must be a resident of the UK. Head over to Shortverse to access the form and review the full terms and requirements. Applications are open now and run through November 26th. Good luck!