Back in 2008, Ctrl.Alt.Shift launched a competition inviting aspiring filmmakers to create content surrounding one of three global issues: War + Peace, Gender + Power, and HIV + Stigma. A year later, in January 2009, the winners of the competition were announced. Already possessing the talent and skill necessary to produce fantastic films, these five lucky directors where provided with practically every resource imaginable to allow their message of change and inspiration to reach massive audiences encouraging our youth to rise to the challenge of instigating change. Armed with a budget and cast along with the priceless opportunity to be mentored by some of UK’s finest and most influential directors such as Aoife McArdle, Chris Harding from Shynola, Kings Burza, Paul Andrew Williams and Jim Threapleton, these directors set out on a journey that was bound to change not only their own lives, but every life they encountered along the way.

This brings us to Wednesday the 7th of October when Raindance and Ctrl.Alt.Shift teamed up for an inspiring evening of screenings, discussions and finally some letting loose, which offered the perfect segway for intellectual discussion to continue flowing in a more relaxed and upbeat atmosphere (photos can be seen here). Held at the Raindance Film Cafe, which has been the location for various events of this nature throughout the festival, audience members were offered the unique opportunity to view these films in the presence of the directors, producers, writers etc., while also being surrounded by a community of concerned citizens sharing their excitement and commitment to the causes being highlighted. An energy felt immediately upon stepping foot inside the cafe screening room, which ironically glowed red paralleling the theme of the evening’s films, sparked an almost unanimous sense of ‘technically we’re strangers, but it feels as though we’ve known each other for years’ feeling that seemed to generate an unspoken bond amongst the hundreds of diverse audience members.

Although the room was buzzing with the excitement of new friendships, the discovery of mutual acquaintances and the exchanging of general filmmaker’s gossip, when it was time for the screenings to begin, everyone quickly felt the shift and immediately made their way towards the screen. After the shuffling of finding a place to sit (or stand) died down, the projection fired up and the night was officially underway.

Having read the synopsis of the films, I was prepared for some powerful footage, but the scenes being projected on screen were able to exceed my expectations by portraying their messages in ways I’d never seen.

1,000 Voices written and directed by Tim Travers Hawkins is an animated short that shows a room of teenagers being given a lecture on the merits of the UK’s efficient and humane asylum system, while a few floors below, detainees leave messages on an abandoned answering machine, telling of their horrors. This unique film was artfully crafted and obviously well thought out. It was able to make an impact on the audience in a way that I’m sure won’t soon be forgotten.

No Way Through written and directed by Alexandra Monro and Sheila Menon had the audience gasping in the first few seconds. We feel the pain and frustration of both characters as we watch their struggles of “finding a way through” to an ambulance. Keeping the audience on the edge of our seats through its entirety, this film definitely left its mark.

HIV: The Musical written and directed by Joe Patrick and Tim Woodall mocks the ignorance of film companies as we follow a young playwright, played by Martin Freeman, in his quest to get his play produced. Through a series of video blog posts, we witness the internal struggles of a writer as he is asked to compromise.

Man Made written and directed by Fern Berresford highlights the inequalities women face in many societies. Using an interesting approach, this short film effectively portrays the struggles women face in a way that forces the audience inside the pain and suffering experienced.

War School written and directed by Ben Newman was one of the most popular entries of the night with its frightening message re-creating the horrors of military training camps for child soldiers. This is definitely one short film that is sure to leave a mark on everyone.

The main page with access to all the short films can be found here and I strongly encourage everyone to take the time to watch all five. These films tackle subjects that are often overlooked, but in great need of being discussed. Please share this link with as many people as possible so we can continue the work of Ctrl.Alt.Shift and Raindance in their pursuit to get these short films out to the public.