The Sparks Film School Film of the Month Award celebrates a new film from the imaginative filmmaking talents of Sparks Film School students every month.
Each month, a film production made by Sparks Film School crew members is chosen by our panel of judges.
Congratulations to the crews behind The House of Emu from Sparks Film School Sheffield
For this month’s Film of the Month award we are celebrating the work of young filmmakers from Sparks Film School in Sheffield!
Congratulations to the young crews behind the film The House of Emu, who are the first winners of the award in 2025!
This comic thriller film was created by young filmmakers from Sparks Film School Sheffield during their October Half Term Camp in 2024.
Our panel loved watching this film, with its great plot and amazing acting performances…
From the Judges…
“Firstly, the film opens with some really well shot establishing exterior panning shots. As our main character wistfully looks out of the window, as she wants to go outside, the camera slowly pans across the window.
It’s a great shot, very smoothly handled and frames our main characters really well. This opening and its professional style camerawork really impressed our panel.
We also want to commend the crew on their acting performances. The film takes a comic turn despite its horror setting (the monster hunting down our heroes is quite unexpected), and the cast really commit to the genre they have chosen.
They give really nice comic performances, with good timing and character, mixed with a commitment to the more serious and horror-esque moments we encounter throughout the film. Well done for some great, versatile acting work here.
We were also impressed with the use of special effects and set design being used in the film, which fit really nicely and added a lot to the production. During the October Half Term the crews focused in on special FX makeup and that is clear to see here, as we see a victim of the emu with an injury on his face which looks very grisly and well done.
We loved the handmade spiders and spider webs that we see in the film. There is some really lovely work on show all around here from the crew.
Overall, the crew behind this film have created a very atmospheric and interesting film, which clearly has involved a lot of creativity and passion.
Congratulations to all involved and well done on being a worthy winner for January 2025’s Film Of The Month Award!
About Sparks Film School’s Film of the Month
The Sparks Film of the Month Award shines a spotlight on a new film each month from the imaginative filmmaking talents of Sparks Film School students.
Each month, a film production made by Sparks Film School crew members is chosen as Film of the Month.
Our panel of judges – assembled from our team of filmmaking instructors – look at submissions from across Sparks Film Schools nationally and choose one film that they think stands out as an impressive piece of filmmaking.
They assess based on each film’s impact on screen and explore all its little details to uncover all the things we love about each film chosen.
Film of the Month: Selection Criteria
To be selected as Sparks Film of the Month, a film production needs to be…
Original:
We look for originality and imagination above all else when choosing the winner of Film of the Month. We looks for films that surprise us, offer some inventiveness and challenge convention.
Interesting:
To be chosen as Film of the Month, a production needs to be interesting. We want to see what happens next; we want to learn more about the characters. We should be invested in watching until the very end.
Well Made:
We need to be appreciate the technicality in how a film has been made for it to be awarded Film of the Month. It should feature a clear storyline, be well shot, well acted, well edited and put together.
Made by Students of Sparks Film School:
Film of the Month can be awarded to any film production made by students at any Sparks Film School across the UK. It can be made independently or during film school sessions.
About Sparks Film School’s Filmmaking Courses
Sparks Film School offers filmmaking, animation and photography workshops for ages 5-18, including term time classes and holiday camps.
We offer free taster classes and there are lots of opportunities to get involved. You can find out more about our filmmaking courses here >>>
