Written by Kianna Best on Jun 9, 2025. Posted in Awards and Festivals

Lights, Camera, Madness: Inside the straight 8 shootout

The straight 8 shootout London premiere lands on 26 June, showcasing bold, no-edit Super 8 films made by top creative teams from around the world. Shot in-camera on one roll of film, seen for the first time live, even by the filmmakers. Expect brilliance, chaos, and creativity unleashed. One night only. Don’t miss it.

Image courtesy of straight 8

The concept is simple, the execution, anything but. Teams from leading creative agencies and brands are invited to shoot a short film using just one cartridge of Super 8 film. That means no editing, no post-production, and no second chances. Every shot must be captured in order, in-camera, with just three minutes and 20 seconds of film to work with. On top of that, each team submits a separate soundtrack, which they must sync to the film without ever seeing the final footage.

Once they send off their undeveloped film and audio, they wait. The finished films are processed, scanned, and premiered in front of a packed audience. The filmmakers see their work for the first time right alongside the crowd. It is equal parts thrilling and terrifying.

"In a world where digital’s pull gets stronger and stronger, to create with total freedom within the liberating limitations of celluloid filmmaking is something of a panacea," comments Ed Sayers, founder of straight 8. "As for the screenings, it’s refreshing to come together to celebrate work that is unpolished, to see and rejoice in the joins as much as the whole."

Founded in 1999 by Sayers, straight 8 began as a grassroots challenge to encourage filmmakers to create within strict limitations. The Cannes edition, launched in 2016, took the format to another level by turning it into a head-to-head contest between some of the biggest names in advertising and branded content. Agencies like Droga5, Wieden+Kennedy, adam&eveDDB, and Mother have all stepped up to the challenge, pushing their creative limits in pursuit of victory.

It’s great to return to the Straight 8 Shootout competition after six years. This time, we want to push ourselves even further – emotionally and technically – knowing that the line between success and absolute failure is thrillingly thin. I’m excited to see the stories others have created within this unique competition.

- Producer Siiri Koponen, Directors Guild Helsinki

The results are as unpredictable as the process. Some films are wildly funny, others touchingly heartfelt. And a few go completely off the rails in the most entertaining ways. Each premiere screening becomes a roller coaster of surprise and celebration, with teams laughing, gasping, and occasionally cringing at what finally makes it onto the screen.

Sayers adds: "The rules haven’t changed. Make a film on one roll of Super 8 editing only with the camera. 3000+ films later, every one is unique. We never set a theme or brief and are consistently surprised with what people make."

What sets the straight 8 shootout apart is not just the analogue format or the competitive spirit. It is the genuine celebration of creativity under pressure. In an era where digital perfection is the norm, this competition reminds us that great ideas can thrive on the edge of chaos, fuelled by instinct and ingenuity.

"The feeling of sharing a new crop of films with the audience that includes the films’ makers themselves, never gets boring! It’s such fun and an absolute privilege," Sayers concludes. "We look forward to welcoming more people from more places, and seeing if they get bitten by the bug, and decide to enter next time."