Congratulations to the Winner of The Camera Games 2024!
We’re delighted to announce that the winner of Best Film for The Camera Games is Cataclysm by students from Sparks Film School Bournemouth! Congratulations to everyone involved!
Watch the Winning Film:
Cataclysm, produced by students from Sparks Film School Bournemouth is this years’ winner of The Camera Games challenge.
On the film, Judge Simon Pollard commented “Cataclysm begins as a grounded, realistic drama before taking an unexpected turn into fully-fledged horror. This shift in tone is handled masterfully, keeping the audience on edge as the story unravels with a steady sense of mystery. What initially feels like a gritty, human-focused narrative gradually transforms into something far more unsettling, making for a film that consistently surprises.”
Judge Sheena Holliday, creative consultant for Sparks Film School, commented “The decision to show only the characters’ reactions to the monster, combined with sound effects and the monster’s POV, is highly effective, leaving much to the imagination.”
Finalist: Brain Rot, Sparks Film School Glasgow
Congratulations to the makers of Brain Rot, one of the Finalists in The Camera Games challenge, who earned an honourable mention from our judging panel.
Brain Rot was produced by young filmmakers from Sparks Film School Glasgow South. Judge Robin Baxter (Sparks Film School Alumnus and film critic) commented “Great visuals and sound-design made this a neat, unsettling bit of filmmaking.”
Other judges also praised with the film with Sheena Holliday calling it, “A film that maintains an ominous tone, enhanced by its sound design, colour palette, and use of shadows.” and Simon Pollard describing the film as “a chilling, timely reflection on the perils of technology.”
Finalist: The Test, Sparks Film School Dorking & Leatherhead
Congratulations to the makers of The Test, one of the Finalists in The Camera Games challenge, who earned an honourable mention from our judging panel.
The Test was produced by young filmmakers in Sparks Film School Dorking & Leatherhead and blends an array of filmmaking styles into a very visually impressive film.
BAFTA acting coach Simon Pollard noted The Test is “a surreal mystery with a sharp satirical bite [that] keeps viewers on edge while offering a witty exploration of viral internet culture. Unfolding like a puzzle, the film constantly subverts expectations, balancing intrigue with moments of dark humour…
Visually inventive, The Test experiments with perspective and framing to immerse the audience in its disorienting world. A mix of close-ups and first-person shots strengthens our connection with the protagonist, enhancing the film’s almost hallucinatory quality. The integration of social media visuals—YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram-style frames—adds a layer of metacommentary, blurring the line between fiction and online spectacle.”
Finalist: Echoes of Tomorrow, Sparks Film School St Albans
Congratulations to the makers of Echoes of Tomorrow, one of the Finalists in The Camera Games challenge, who earned an honourable mention from our judging panel.
Echoes of Tomorrow was created by young filmmakers of Sparks Film School St Albans. Judge Sheena Holliday said this film had “excellent visual storytelling—minimal dialogue allows the audience to interpret meaning through the carefully composed shots.” She also detailed how “the team have worked really well together creating the sound effects for this film – they are both effective and immersive’’. Judge Robin Baxter praised the film for being “a thoroughly effective mood-piece with particularly strong visuals and sound-design.”
Filmmakers from Sparks Film School St Albans were also the winners of The Camera Games 2023, and so this year continues a strong trend of exceptional filmmaking from St Albans.
What are The Camera Games?
Every year during the summer term, students taking part in Sparks Film School’s filmmaking classes take on a production challenge known as The Camera Games, which is designed to bring all their knowledge and learning together and give space for them to produce a piece of work that represents the best of their talents and skills development.
Every crew takes part in a series of production-focused masterclasses, then embarks on the adventure of producing their own unique film production.
Each film is entered into a nation-wide competition, where a winning Best Film production is awarded this year’s title.
Our judging panel includes industry figures and film critics, who determine the winning film based on its merits and production quality.
Find out more
The Camera Games features during the summer term of Sparks filmmaking classes.
In Sparks Film School’s filmmaking classes, young filmmakers learn all about the different aspects of filmmaking together in age-tiered film crews. They explore the different roles found on a film set, as well as lots of different production techniques. They develop skills as young producers, directors, screenwriters, camera and production crew, as well as acting for camera and editors too.
Find out more about Sparks filmmaking classes here >>
