Hello, fellow movie buffs! We’ve embarked on an incredible journey of creativity and talent, brought to life by Project Spark, an international initiative by NANLITE & NANLUX. With the theme of “reflection,” this contest was a rallying call for creators from every corner of the globe. Today, we’re thrilled to announce the winners of this exceptional campaign and share the fascinating details about the upcoming film screenings.

Journey of Project Spark

Supported by four esteemed sponsors, ATOMOS, RODE, DZOFILM, and ARTLIST, Project Spark explored four different film categories: narrative, documentary, commercial, and experimental. To date, we have received an impressive 82 submissions for the campaign, and we’re thrilled by the global response and the ingenuity showcased in the entries.

Meet the Judges

The tough task of selection fell upon our distinguished panel of five international judges: Juan A. Fernández, AEC, a renowned cinematographer from Spain; Martyna Knitter from Illuminatrix, UK; Ryan Connolly, a celebrated filmmaker from the US; Australia’s Wade Muller, HKSC, ACS; and director Yolanda Torres from Spain. Their professional insights and votes determined the winners of this contest.

Winner Announcement

Following an intense and thorough selection process, we’ve identified the crème de la crème of the submissions.

Best Narrative Short

“A Flame of Memories,” directed by Vlas Igor from Moldova, clinched the Best Narrative Short award. The heart-rending tale of two children, left to fend for themselves on the streets after the loss of their mother, was inspired by a true story. The film poignantly explores themes such as family, sibling bonds, strength, and resilience.

Judges’ Comments

Our judges praised the film’s atmospheric beginning, excellent cinematography, well-casted actors, and the elegant direction of the child actors. They appreciated the high-quality storytelling, engaging visuals, tender storyline, and effective use of imagery. Despite finding the child’s dialogue slightly heavy-handed, the judges were moved by the emotional, well-crafted film.

Best Experimental Short

“Shadow’s Pass,” a unique creation by Canada’s Aiden Nicell, won the Best Experimental Short award. The film, which uses over 5000+ individually shot, printed, cut, and reprocessed image frames, abstractly explores the impact of a near-death experience on a person’s life.

Judges’ Comments

Despite finding the film a tad long, the judges were compelled by its great style and solid tone. They praised the film’s experimental nature, innovative use of techniques, excellent blending of animation, frame-by-frame cinematography, and live images. They also appreciated how the film pushed the boundaries of these techniques to enhance storytelling.

The Spark Award

“Floodgate,” directed by Lucile Parry from Canada, was conferred with The Spark award. The protagonist’s journey through an abandoned home, with past memories causing destruction, presents a fascinating tale of reconciliation or destruction.

Judges’ Comments

The judges lauded the evocative start, the visually interesting world, the tense pacing, the well-crafted sound design, elegant camerawork, and engaging nonverbal, visual storytelling. They appreciated the originality in many aspects, including the main characters, vibrant sound design, and memorable and meaningful light work.

Unfortunate Regrets and Future Prospects

Unfortunately, no winners were selected for the Best Documentary Short and Best Commercial Short categories this time. Out of respect for all participants and adherence to our selection criteria, we decided not to select winners for these categories. We eagerly look forward to more exceptional performances in future competitions.

 Film Screenings Announcement

The award-winning works will be showcased on the YouTube channel @Nanlite Global from July 4th to Aug. 25th. So, mark your calendars and get ready for a visual feast!

In conclusion, our heartfelt thanks go to our sponsors, ATOMOS, RODE, DZOFILM, and ARTLIST. We extend our gratitude to all participants, whose support and creativity made Project Spark a successful platform for talent and innovation. Looking to the future, we’re excited to continue fostering an environment that nurtures and encourages exceptional content creators and their productions. Let’s keep the celebration of cinematic creation alive!