Winners of the Mash-Up Filmmaking Competition
31 March 2023
By EAFA Team
EAFA intern Holly explores some of the winning films from the Mash-Up Filmmaking Competition
EAFA’s annual Mash-Up Filmmaking Competition challenges filmmakers to create something new from exclusive archive film.
Each year EAFA releases a specially curated package of archive material for entrants to use, selected from its vast collections. These films document life across the East of England and include home movies, amateur films, local life, advertisements, industry films, and more.
The competition is open to all ages and abilities. Submissions are judged by EAFA staff on their creativity, imagination, and how the filmmaker has chosen to interact with the archive film.
EAFA Intern Holly Anderson takes a look at some of the recent winning films to find out what makes a great mash-up, and how different filmmakers have approached the challenge.
Charlotte Thistlewood – Connections, 2020
A still from Connections by Charlotte Thistlewood.
Charlotte Thistlewood, a student with a passion for film, was the 2020 Mash-Up winner in the under 18s category. It took two days to film the original footage for her film Connections, which also features footage from the East Anglian Film Archive.
The film (03:47 in length) begins with one actor finding a videotape entitled ‘Cromer Summer ’34’. The videotape is revealed to show black and white footage of beachgoers. The filmmaker creates a narrative that emphasizes the themes of friendship, place and home.
The film ends with original footage shot by Thistlewood that shows two actors on the beach in Cromer holding up two halves of a vintage-looking polaroid. The polaroid depicts beachgoers in front of Comer Pier, which is also mirrored in the background of the frame. Original footage film locations include a house that was made to look like to different set locations.
When asked what she enjoys most about filmmaking and the Mash-Up Filmmaking Competition, Charlotte said, “the way that it is the perfect balance between the creativity that you can only get with the arts and logical planning, step by step process, and ability to see it through from start to finish.”
Phoebe Cullum – Home, 2020
A still from Home by Phoebe Cullum.
Phoebe Cullum’s short film Home was the 2020 winner in the 18 and over category, and runs to 02:34 in length.
The film begins with the definition of the word ‘home’ being broadcast on the screen, and then cuts to film footage that shows a black and white map of East Anglia.
One of the most captivating features of this film is Cullum’s use of simple, red-lined animations to reimagine the original footage. For example, small red hearts can be seen dancing about footage of a family photo (01:29), which adds a layer of emotional depth and playfulness to the scene.
The film ends with multiple shots by Cullum that show examples of Covid-19 restrictions around East Anglia and a family in front of a home, while they clap for NHS workers.
Joseph Goode – Transformation, 2018
A still from Transformation by Joseph Goode.
Norwich native and film student Joseph’s 2018 short film Transformation (running time 03:38) was the winner of that year’s 18 and over category. The film begins with a close-up shot of the filmmaker’s hand, writing with a pencil engraved with the word ‘Norfolk’. Then a voice begins narrating:
From blue water to green leaves, surrounded by open lakes and endless trees…
What ensues is an eloquent description of Norfolk life paired with archival footage of East Anglia, weaving a narrative of the then and now. At certain points during the film, Goode utilizes a split-screen combining original animated footage with that from the East Anglian Film Archive. The movement between original animations and EAFA footage allows Goode as a filmmaker to reimagine scenes from the past.
The film ends with the line, “We will die, but our memories won’t,” which serves as a great reminder of the power of memory and film.
Jacob Warr – The Discovery, 2019
A still from the archive footage used in The Discovery by Jacob Warr
Jacob Warr’s short film, The Discovery, won the under 18s category in 2019 and runs to 04:45 in duration. Warr, who at the time was self-taught and has since gone on to participate in the BFI Academy, edited his short film to craft a sci-fi narrative that brings UFOs to the East Anglian Film Archive. Warr says that he knew that he wanted to add something visually to the archival footage and include Norfolk UFO lore in his short film.
The film begins with a narrator clicking through film clips in order to create a film for the Mash-Up Filmmaking Competition. Warr convincingly edited an unidentified flying object into the background of all the archival footage used in his short film.
What ensues is a suspenseful journey that utilises the edited archival footage to spin a narrative of hidden alien activity in East Anglia. Warr’s editing style and unique vision make for a creative sci-fi viewing experience.
Ella Finch – LOV, 2017
A still from archive footage used in LOV by Ella Finch.
Ella Finch’s short film LOV (Labor Omnia Vincit) won the 18 and over category in 2017’s Mash-Up Filmmaking Competition. The film begins with the narrator writing a letter:
It’s been well over a month since I have received your letter. I’m so sorry…
The film is like a visual scrapbook that weaves archival footage from EAFA and photos provided by Finch around the process of writing a letter. The narrator flips thorugh archival footage of landscapes in East Anglia, and leads the viewer on a visual journey. The narrator gives life updates and asks questions of the letter’s recipient. As scenes change, the narrator continues to write, while clips play in the background. The film ends with the narrator finishing the letter:
I have to touch the ground now, there is a five minute limit
and with archival footage of a person touching down in a parachute.
Steve Oldfield – Pandora’s Box, 2021
A still from Pandora's Box by Steve Oldfield.
Steve Oldfield won the 18 and over category in 2021 with his short film, Pandora’s Box (04:14 in length).
The film begins with a man sorting through a box of film while ominous music sets an eerie tone. Each film reel is revealed to have titles like ‘greed’, ‘stress’ and ‘turmoil’. The man begins to play each reel, revealing archive footage from EAFA that aligns with the theme of the reel.
Oldfield’s clever editing of the footage crafts a suspenseful narrative until the last few moments of the film. In the end, the final film reel, entitled ‘hope’, is selected from the box. When played, it shows colour footage of people dancing and clapping, offering a hopeful vision of the future.
About the Mash-Up Filmmaking Competition
The East Anglian Film Archive founded the Mash up Filmmaking competition in 2014.
This creative re-use competition is open to all ages and abilities (with a special category for under 18s) and has garnered international interest in recent years. Entrants are provided with a specially curated package of archive film selected from EAFA’s vast collections, documenting life across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Find out more about the Mash-Up Filmmaking Competition, and watch more previous winners, in our projects.
The header photo shows a still from Pandora’s Box by Steve Oldfield. The thumbnail photo shows a still from Transformation by Joseph Goode.