The events was judged by a panel of entertainment and industry professionals including actors Brenda Blethyn OBE and Timothy Spall OBE; Time Out Live director Tim Arthur; television and radio comedy writer Jon Holmes; Mike Shaw, editor-in-chief of The Void ; University of Kent lecturer, Dr Oliver Double, and stand-up comedy collective Pappy’s.

Now in its 3rd year, The 2 Days’ Laughter Comedy Shorts Awards Screenings was voted another resounding success by the attending audience. Budding filmmakers have been taking up the challenge to make a laugh-out-loud mini-movie in less than 48 hours (total production time). The competition received 25 Film entries from all over the UK, involving over 160 filmmakers, from as a far Sheffield, Swansea and Switzerland!
 
Thanks to sponsorship by Screen South, over 150 comedy fans packed out the stalls of the historic Georgian building, travelling from Bolton, Sheffield and Switzerland, to watch an evening of 25 comic film screenings and Stand-Up hosted by comedian Laura Lexx.

The organisers have produced a sister event, 2 Days Later, a 48 hour horror short film competition and screenings, every October since 2003. 316 films have now been especially made for these competitions involving over 4800 participants from all over the UK and Europe.

2 Days Laughter Co-director, Mick Etherton, says: “The audience reaction to the films was fantastic. As always there was a fantastic atmosphere at these screenings, and it’s great to see so many of our previous competition filmmakers returning with their new films. The standard of entries was the highest yet, but there was one film that everyone seemed to chuckle at!”

Four Kent Bred Films in the Final… but it was runaway success in the final furlong, beating rampant bunnies, desperate dogs & dinosaurs!

The judging panel decided the film that raised the biggest laughs to win Best Short Film was Mick: An ex-Police Horse, a spoof documentary that depicts the antics of an ex-Police horse’s retirement years living by the sea in Margate.

Winning directors, Edward Hancock and David Dickinson were particularly delighted, as the film crew had travelled down from north London for the weekend. They won a national film screening of their film at Popcorn Comedy Night events across the UK, their film image depicted as a full size cinema release screening poster, a selection of comedy DVDs and T-shirts. Mick: An Ex-Police Horse also galloped away with Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, and the director Edward Hancock also scooped Best Actor for his equine antics, making this the first short film in a ‘2 Days Laughter’ event to pick up five Judges' Award categories (beating last year’s record of four awards by Amazing People: Man with the Wobbly Hand!).

Amazingly, The audience on the night also voted for Mick;An Ex-Police Horse as their Best Popular Film Judges’ Screening, so scooping an amazing record of SIX trophies!


Edward Hancock (centre) receiving the BEST SHORT FILM Award from Theatre Royal Director Will Wollen (left) and 2 Days Laughter’ Mick Etherton (Right) for Mick: An Ex-Police Horse

Canterbury based filmmaker Philip Benedict’s dry and technically inspirational 3D parody of a 1970’s Tourist Information film Visit Canterbury in 3D! was narrowly beaten in the audience vote for Best Popular Film Just for Laughs Screening by Ramsgate’s very own director Mark Gregory for his controversial comment of Margate street life Charlie Hav – The World According to. “I’m absolutely delighted!” Mark said of winning the award, acknowledging the scriptwriter and producer Tom Harrison who was unable to attend the awards.


Ramsgate filmmaker Mark Gregory (centre) receiving the audience vote BEST POPULAR Just For Laughs Screening Award for Charle Hav- The World According to from Theatre Royal Director Will Wollen (left) and 2 Days Laughter’ Mick Etherton (right).

Hot shot filmmakers Aaron Mercer and Mark Slaughter, from Edenbridge, Kent, were the runners-up Best Film and won Best Sound and with The Bizarre Friendship of Tom & Carl - proving that bizarre isn’t always bad in a relationship!


Aaron Mercer (centre) and Mark Slaughter (centre right) receiving BEST SOUND Award for The Bizarre Friendship of Tom & Carl from Theatre Royal Director Will Wollen (left) and 2 Days Laughter’ Mick Etherton (right)

Best Editor was won by Sheffield based filmmaker Rob McLellan for Badger Game, whose leading lady Victoria Bailey won Best Female Actor for a second time, (having won the same award in last year’s 2 Days Later Horror competition) narrowly beating Swiss based Julie Stasik.

Victoria Bailey (centre) receiving the BEST ACTRESS Award from Theatre Royal Director Will Wollen (left) and 2 Days Laughter’ Mick Etherton (Right) for her role in Badger Game

Best Student Film and a Judges’ Favourite, went to The Balloon, directed by media student Gareth Daniels who came down from Warrington Collegiate, to collect his award for his film about a lonely man and his rotund latex friend!

Gareth Daniels from The Ballon (centre) receiving the BEST STUDENT FILM award from 2 Days Laughter’ Mick Etherton and Theatre Royal Director Will Wollen (left) whilst Laura Lexx (right) banters with the audience

The event was hosted by up-and-coming stand-up comedian, Laura Lexx, who also presented the prizes with Theatre Royal Director Will Wollen and 2 Days Laughter Co-director Mick Etherton to the delighted filmmakers. Laura’s razor sharp wit and delivery ensured the evening ended with the audience in the highest of spirits as the performers and audience made their way down for refills at the packed after-party at the Westcoast Bar, in the Old Town Harbour. Live entertainment was provided by Bob Marley Tribute band, Legend Live, fresh back from performing at the Bahrain International Formula 1 Motor-racing Circuit.

Click here to see the full film category result winners.

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