Expresso 90 Film Festival set for triumphant return

23rd January 2023

Solihull College & University Centre is delighted to announce the return of the Expresso 90 Film Festival after a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Now entering its 4th year, Expresso 90 is returning to The Mockingbird Cinema in Birmingham. Unique to the festival is that submissions must be just 90 seconds in length. The judging panel will be looking for films that arrest, entertain, provoke thought and showcase the sophisticated abilities needed to produce fully rounded productions in such a limited time frame.

Open to everyone, entries can be submitted via FilmFreeway up until February 10th at 5pm. Between 10-20 films will be selected for screening and the judging panel will vote for their ‘Best Overall Film’ and ‘Best Young Filmmaker’ (open to entrants under the age of 19). Winners will receive the Expresso 90 trophy as well as a £50 gift card for The Mockingbird Cinema.

Expresso 90 Film Festival 2023

2019 overall winner, Callum O’Connor, comments: “Expresso 90 has given fellow filmmakers from around the world an opportunity to expand creative horizons and build on the foundation of micro-short filmmaking. This festival presented itself as an opportunity to express and explore my passion in filmmaking, but has since become an opportunity for both personal and professional development, resulting in recognition beyond the confines of a cinema screening. My film may have been short, but the outcome from the festival has given me a long and inspiring journey into the medium of visual storytelling.”

2018 overall winner Jemma Kinzett, who is on the judging panel this year, commented: “Expresso 90 is a great opportunity to showcase your creativity and skills in a short and compelling way. Since winning the festival in 2018, I have gone on to work with multiple film and TV Production companies across the West Midlands. I have explored different roles, which has helped build my portfolio and given me the opportunity to widen my network. Expresso 90 was the key I needed to get my foot in the door of the industry.”

Previous winners Callum O’Connor and Jemma Kinzett at Expresso 90 in previous years.

Director of this year’s festival, Tommy Reade, comments: “We want to see imaginative and engaging 90 Second films from creatives of all ages, backgrounds and disciplines.”

The screening will take place on March 9th, 6-8pm at the Mockingbird Cinema and audience admission is free.

Find out more via the Expresso 90 website or contact expresso90filmfest@gmail.com.

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