Cornish film and theatre company o-region received a record number of entries into this year’s Roughcut 60 Second Film Challenge, supported by Falmouth University School of Film & Television and WTW Cinemas.

Usually held in the Plaza Cinema, this year’s entries were hosted on the o-region website. All of the films were 60 seconds long and explored the theme of “secrets”.

The Best Young People’s Film, Runners Up, and Overall Winner were chosen by a panel of industry judges, which included Mark Jenkin, the BAFTA award winning Cornish writer/director of Bait.

Despite moving it online, the festival was a huge success. 618 films were entered into the competition from around the world, with a high quality of entries. 7,277 people watched the films from home with 2,416 voting for their favourite.

The winners of Roughcut 60 Second Film challenge 2020

Best Young Peoples Film

  • 17-year old Liza Saldova from Madrid for her film The Beauty of Life. Prize of £250.

Audience Award voted by the public

  • Sahil Yadav from Dehli for his animation Acceptance. Prize of £250

Main Competition awards:  

Runners Up

  • Matty McCabe from London for his film There’s No Such thing as Monsters. Prize of £250
  • 17-year-old Fin Wallace from Truro for his film The Big Secret. Prize of £250

The overall winner:

  • Peter Kimball from Massachusetts, USA mart, dark and very funny animation Grace winning £1000.

The winning films are available to view on the o-region website.

Simon Harvey, director of o-region said: “We’re really delighted that the Film Challenge has grown so exponentially this year. We’re blown away that there are likeminded individuals all over the world who have a passion for making innovative, funny, moving and downright entertaining short form films.”