22
Aug11
What Makes A Great One-Minute Film?
by Garage
At Filminute, this is the most important question we ask. And the answers we’ve received over the years – from our juries, filmmakers, and the Filminute community – have provided great insights that have helped evolve the collective understanding of not only what makes a great one-minute film, but great films in general.
Indeed, many of the answers we’ve received, from some of the world’s foremost experts on film, make no distinction between a one-minute film and a film that is longer in length. Apart from the 60-second limit, they emphasize the importance of great writing, direction, acting, camera, sound and editing. We agree.
One answer we’ve posted to the Filminute welcome page is as follows:
The best one-minute films resonate beyond one minute and affect audiences the same way any great film does.
Below are three quotes from Filminute jurors that have been especially insightful as well as examples of one-minute films that speak to those insights:
• A great one-minute film will last longer than a minute! Sometimes in a full-length film, you’ll get one scene in the film that resonates beyond the length of the full film. The one-minute film is the reverse of that, in one minute, a great one-minute film will capture an idea that stays with you far beyond one-minute.
• A great one-minute film will last longer than a minute! Sometimes in a full-length film, you’ll get one scene in the film that resonates beyond the length of the full film. The one-minute film is the reverse of that, in one minute, a great one-minute film will capture an idea that stays with you far beyond one-minute.
Ekow Eshun, Artistic Director, Institute of Contemporary Arts (London) and Filminute 2006 Juror.
• A good film, short or long, should show me something about our (inner and outer) world which I didn’t know. As well, it should concern me, hit me emotionally.
Klaus Eder, FIPRESCI General Secretary and Filminute 2007 Juror.
• A great piece of film, be it 3 hours or a minute, should consist of equal parts truth, surprise, and craft.
Mark Tutssel, Global Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett Worldwide and Filminute 2010 Juror.
As we narrow down from the more than 1000 films we screen to reach a shortlist of 25 finalists, these are some of the ideas that are foremost in our minds.
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