06.03.26

FROM SUBMISSION TO AWARD: DERKAN ON WINNING SUFFOLK SHORTS WITH CHILDREN OF ORPHEUS

Discover one filmmaker’s story of submitting to Suffolk Shorts Film Festival, winning an award, and using the £1,000 prize to develop their next independent short film.

I knew that to get my work ‘out there’ I needed to reach local audiences outside of the major cities. Otherwise what was the point of festivals. Laurels are great, and they look great, but it’s bums on seats you wanna get to. So I looked around the country, and in the east, north-east Suffolk short film festival caught my attention. It looked like a burgeoning festival, and the biggest of its kind in its own neck off the woods. So submit I did. Aside from my own lack of self-confidence, I really didn’t think such an experimental dance film had much of a chance. But I was surprised I got in. And I was very grateful.

I was on the look out for up-coming mid ranged festivals around the country.

I couldn’t attend in person because I was in the middle of shooting another film at the time. I’m keeping myself a busy bee mostly out of terror I won’t break through the industry. But yet again I was shocked to find out I was nominated for an award. Such heights, I thought they really like my film, that’s such a massive boost to my confidence. And then I found out I won, which is where my lack of self-confidence decided to step in. 'Are you mental? A dance film? Surely not’. But Yeah I won. And I really couldn’t describe how or what I felt. It was a mixture of many things, but all of them good. Besides my self-confidence calling into questions the festival’s decision.

And then I found out I won some prize money, I don’t even remember reading there was prize money involved. If I was Robin Hood I would have robbed me and not thought twice. If I was some sort of troubadour in the 13th century or 12th century and won a contest at a local tavern or something, point is they made a mistake but here we are. Anyway, £1000 was a lot of money, and beyond feelings, it helped me pre-develop my next short film scheduled for a shoot in April. So every penny helped me build towards preparing the short, without which it would finish later rather than sooner. So thank you Suffolk Short Film Festival. I hope to submit another film and attend in person this time round.

Author:

Derkan Dogan

Derkan is a London-based writer
and director who won the Unique
Perspectives category at the 2025 Suffolk Shorts Film Festival for his experimental dance film Children of Orpheus