Celebrating 'Resistance' at the Creative Competitions Showcase
Olivia Howell (BA Social Anthropology with History) reflects on this year’s Creative Competitions showcase, alongside her internship supporting the initiative.
The Department of Film and Creative Writing’s annual One-Minute Movie and Sixty-Word Story competitions returned this year with an impressive number of entries inspired by the theme ‘Resistance’.
Following last year’s competition, which took inspiration from the University’s 125th anniversary celebrations, this time entries were encouraged to explore ‘resistance’ through both filmmaking and fiction. Alongside five short films, an impressive eighty stories were submitted, and each explored the theme in unique ways showcasing the imagination of students, staff and alumni across the University.
The entries were celebrated at a showcase held in the Aston Webb Lecture Theatre on Tuesday 9th June, during UoB Xtra. The event opened with an address from Dr Richard Langley (Head of Department, Film & Creative Writing) before a compilation of the films were screened. Some entrants then bravely read their stories aloud, while all attendees had the opportunity to browse the entries in an online booklet. There were also some recordings submitted from writers who could not be there in person, and it was lovely to hear words brought to life through peoples’ own voices.
In the student categories: Sama Eldsouki, a BSc Computer Science student, won over the judges with her poignant story, ‘Sorry’, while Louise Akroyd, (MA Film and Television) won the student film category with her humorous and relatable entry ‘I Wish it were a Quiet Place’. In the staff category, Tim Nightingale’s suspenseful story ‘The First Cut Draws Red’ received the first prize. The alumni story winner was Fionne Leaney for the poetic ‘Grow Up’, while Iman Tadu won the alumni film category with the powerful ‘Death to Self’.
The ceremony ended with winners and runners-up receiving their certificates and prizes from Dr Oscar Vinter, one of the judges, before posing for photographs in front of the screen displaying their names. The afternoon provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate the creativity and achievements of all of those who took part, as well as acknowledging the support of the judges (Oscar, Dr Johnny Lynas, Dr Christina Wilkins, and University Chancellor Dr Sandie Okoro OBE).
As the Creative Competitions Intern this year, I worked with Jemma Penny to support the delivery of this programme. My role included creating promotional material across social media and posters, to encourage submissions and to boost attendance at the showcase event. I also assisted with the administrative tasks, including compiling the stories into the final booklet and managing entries on a spreadsheet. This experience was perfect for providing insight into the behind-the-scenes work needed to create and deliver such successful creative opportunities.
The showcase highlighted the strength of the University of Birmingham community, helping to bring together students, staff and alumni through shared creativity. My internship, funded by the Alumni Impact Fund, demonstrated the importance of development opportunities for students and sustaining the growth, community and creativity that the University values.
Congratulations to this year’s winners and runners-up, and a massive well done to everyone who entered this year’s competitions!
Sixty-Word Stories
Runners-up
Student: Manan Chauhan - 26 June 1975 & Sivali Gutierrez – Lift
Staff: Lara Callaghan – Viaticum
Alumni: Charlotte Linton-Fielding - Hubris for Lunch
Winners
Student: Sama Eldesouki - Sorry
Staff: Tim Nightingale - The First Cut Draws Red
Alumni: Fionn Leaney – Grow Up
One-Minute Movies
Runners-up
Student: Thomas Noy – The Biscuit Conundrum
Alumni: Yaqoub Imran – The Unnamed Opponent
Winners
Student: Louise Akroyd – I wish it were a quiet place
Alumni: Iman Tadu – Death to Self