A feast of narrative imagination and directorial invention!
This year, the University of Oxford’s third French film essay competition was also opened up to younger students (from year 7 onwards) and even offered entrants the chance to write, direct and submit their own mini-film via YouTube. An amazing total of 222 entries were received, from across 42 schools.
The judges were deeply impressed by the range and richness of responses to the two set films: Le Hérisson (years 7-11) and L'Auberge Espagnole. Entrants re-wrote the closing chapter, picking up narrative threads left hanging by each film’s ambiguous ending. So rich were the responses that, in addition to the winner and runner-up in each category, a selection of further entries were offered special commendation. To read more about the re-writings of each film, click here.
Read the winning essay in each age group:
Eleanor Palmer (Years 12-13)
The Medieval & Modern Languages Faculty congratulates all participants and expresses its gratitude to their teachers for supporting their entries. Particular thanks are offered to Routes into Languages and the Sir Robert Taylor Society for their generous sponsorship of the competition.