straight 8 Shootout Returns for Cannes 2022

20 super 8 short films made by some of the top companies in the world will premiere at Cannes for 2020. 

Be there with the likes of Caviar, Black Dog, Merman, Somesuch and more when they see their own work for the very first time on a huge screen in a packed cinema.

The only work in Cannes that’s never been seen - even by the people who made it! Everyone is welcome at straight 8’s global analogue filmmaking showdown for companies: ‘straight 8 shootout’. And no festival pass is required.

The APA and Cinelab Film + Digital present ‘straight 8 shootout 2022’. Cinema Les Arcades, 77 Rue Felix Faure, Cannes on Friday June 24th.

Petit Déjeuner: 10-10:45 am - sponsored by LS Productions.

Call time: 11am prompt on screen.

Wrap time: 12:45pm after voting and award ceremony in the cinema.

Ticket registration is essential. Register now here.

This is a raw and raucous event with an amazing line-up of companies from four continents all competing, having made a short film, editing entirely in-camera, on just one roll of super 8 film. Every film will be shown - no matter how, or even if, it came out.

The companies brave enough to put their name to this insane challenge?

10days // Agile Films // Black Dog Films // Caviar // Dog Eat Dog // Flipt // Greatcoat Films // Iris // Mad Cow Films // Merman // No8 // Ntropic // Park Village // Partizan // Somesuch // Spindle // Mr+Positive // The Lift // The Producers // VCCP London // Work Editorial.

Any kind of creative company is invited to take the straight 8 shootout challenge: to make a 2.5 minute short film created entirely in-camera on just one cartridge of super 8mm film. Every shot is taken in story order, with no opportunity for re-takes or editing. Any visual effects, colouring and titling must be done the old-fashioned way: as part of the shoot, with the camera. Super 8 doesn’t record sound, so soundtracks are made ‘blind’ and must be original.

Entrants send their exposed but un-developed film cartridges to straight 8 partners Cinelab Film & Digital who will process and scan the films. straight 8 will then line up each soundtrack with the first frame of the film. It’s that ‘simple’.

Since launching shootout in 2016 with APA London, its success has been proven at Cannes, Ciclope and Adfest and two lockdown editions, with a live online premiere broadcast to a global audience including entrants in Australia, Spain, South Africa, Tokyo. Many top creative companies from around the world have now risen to straight 8’s shootout challenge. See some of the companies who’ve entered, links to past winning films and the charities who’ve benefited to date, at straight8.net/shootout.

Ed Sayers, director, and straight 8 founder, comments: “I’m so excited to see what this full house of amazing companies manages to produce for this edition of straight 8. People don’t believe me when I say that I don’t even watch shootout films before their premiere, but it’s true. That’s how I can look you in the eye when you ask if your film has at least come out, and honestly say to you: I don’t know.”

Steve Davies, chief executive, APA London, says: “straight 8 is a brilliant film competition. We are delighted to be back in Cannes with it this year and supporting its launch event in London. It is a fantastic opportunity and platform for emerging directors to showcase their skills and creativity in front of the wider industry.”

Adrian Bull, managing director, Cinelab Film & Digital, comments: “We work on hundreds of films, TV shows, music videos and commercials each year, all formats including digital and 65mm film down to super 8mm - and straight 8 is still one of the most exciting projects we’re involved with.”

Barny Wright, managing director, No.8, comments: “It’s great to be a sponsor of the Cannes shootout again! We are helping out on the sound on a few of the entries and we even finally got the courage to do a No.8 straight 8 film ourselves!”

Tanya Spencer, executive producer, The Producers (Australia), says: “All our filmmakers love the old-school challenge of straight 8 and we’re proud to have enjoyed multiple wins over the years. This year we’re excited to see how the judges (our competitors) and audiences react to our entry from our talented team. And we can’t wait to see how it’s turned out as well!”

Avelino Rodríguez, founding partner, The Lift (Mexico), comments: "Mexico is all about its people, places, and culture; we can't think of a better way to showcase our talented directors and crew than through straight 8, an event that challenges our creativity and inventiveness."

Says Peter Grasse, founder, Mr+Positive ( Japan): “No one really actually cares how busy you are shooting global campaigns for a-list advertisers…. Yet, tell them about your dangerously-creative straight 8 film idea, and their eyes light up with ardent imagination. This is our third festival film. That’s positive!”