CultureLab has teamed up with to offer readers the chance to win tickets to the 2015 SCI-FI-LONDON Film Festival.
The festival runs from 28 May to 6 June at venues across the UK capital, and showcases some of the best and most original films in science fiction, including a selection of UK and world premieres.
It will showcase features, documentaries, short films, animation and film-making events, plus a host of industry workshops and networking sessions, but it is probably best known for its 48 Hour Film Challenge.
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Over the last five years, this contest has seen over 1000 films completed, some of which have been screened at other film festivals, broadcast on TV or, on a couple of occasions, even led to feature film deals. The competition’s first winner, Gareth Edwards, went on to direct (2010) and Godzilla (2014), and is currently working on a spin-off of the Star Wars franchise.
This year’s challenge takes place from 11 to 13 April, and will be judged by a jury that includes the writer Neil Gaiman, Adam Rutherford from BBC Radio 4’s Inside Science and film composer and musician Simon Boswell. Participants have to create a sci-fi short in only 48 hours, based on a set title and prop list, and all submissions must include a specific line of dialogue. This is where you come in.
Write a line of dialogue that creates an interesting premise for a science-fiction film, and submit it via this online form. Make it something intriguing to do with science, and remember that the film-makers are constrained by time and resources. Entries should be no longer than 20 words.
We’ll pick the snappiest, most originally expressed ideas we receive. The judges from 91av and SCI-FI-LONDON will then select one winner who will receive a pair of tickets and party invites to the 2015 SCI-FI-LONDON Film Festival, plus an ev ATC hard disc by G-Technology. This rugged disc is built to store up to 1 terabyte of data and is designed to cope with the rigours of location filming. (They also tell us that if you drop it in water, it floats.)
Nine runners-up will also be selected, each winning a pair of festival tickets.
The closing date for entries is 23:59 GMT on Friday, 3 April 2015.
Terms and conditions
1. This competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over, except for employees of Reed Business Information Limited.
2. Entry is open only to 91av subscribers and users registered on newscientist.com. Submit your entry, including your name and email address, using the entry form. Entries may not be submitted by any other method.
3. Every correct entry received by 23:59 GMT on Friday, 3 April 2015 will be entered into a draw to win the prize featured on this page. Prizes cannot be exchanged. There is no cash alternative.
4. Only one entry is permitted per person. No purchase is necessary. The judges’ decision is final.
5. 91av shall not be responsible for technical errors in telecommunication networks, internet access or otherwise, preventing entry at this website.
6. Submitting your entry constitutes your consent for us to use your entry, name and photos (if applicable) for editorial or publicity purposes.
7. 91av reserves the right to ask for proof of age and evidence to verify the identity of an entrant at any time. Entrants may only enter the competition in their own name. Entries submitted through agents or third parties will not be accepted.
8. Entrants warrant that their entry will not infringe the intellectual property, privacy or any other rights of any third party, and will not contain anything which is libellous, defamatory, obscene, indecent, harassing or threatening.
9. Winners’ names will be available by writing to “Sci-fi competition”, 91av, 110 High Holborn, London WC1V 6EU UK
10. 91av reserves the right to change or withdraw the competition and/or prize at any time.
11. The promoter of the completion is Reed Business Information Limited .
This article appeared in print under the headline “Quest for a great one-liner”