A feast of narrative imagination and directorial invention!

This year, the University of Oxford’s fourth 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. An amazing total of 178 entries were received, from almost 50 schools.



The judges were deeply impressed by the range and richness of responses to the four set films: Le Petit Nicolas and Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis (years 7-11) and Dans la maison and De Rouille et d'os (years 12-13). 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 and higher commendations. To read more about the re-writings of each film, click here.



Read the winning essay in each age group:  Joe Beadle (Years 7-11) and Jessica Binks (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 support of the competition.