• “The Dream Makers” initiative showcases two competitions to find and boost young creative talent in cinema, providing substantial funding to produce a short film and a full scholarship for film studies at ESCAC
• Wayne Griffiths, CEO of CUPRA and brand ambassadors Daniel Brühl and J.A. Bayona will be part of the jury that selects the Short Film Contest winner, with the announcement set to take place at the 2024 Sitges Film Festival running from October 3^rd to 13^th
• Projects of the Short Film Contest may be submitted from June 3^rd to June 9^th, 2024, using the form available on the ESCAC website
• In July, CASA SEAT will host an event to explain all the details of the second competition, the Film Studies Contest

CUPRA continues its mission to boost the next generation of great storytellers with “The Dream Makers”, two competitions that will put their talent firmly in the spotlight. Together with the Spanish film director and CUPRA Tribe member, J.A Bayona and the Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya (ESCAC), the brand doesn’t just promise a stage for creativity, it pledges to bring the dreams of the young talent to life.

“For CUPRA, these competitions are more than a prize; they’re about inspiring the next generation and giving an opportunity to young talent that is yet to be discovered. As someone who once dreamt of directing, I’m deeply committed to supporting the next generation of extraordinary filmmakers”, said Wayne Griffiths, CEO of CUPRA.  

The competition, targeting young filmmakers aged 22 to 30, is looking for innovative short film scripts and with an open theme. A distinguished jury, made up of Wayne Griffiths; Oscar nominated film director, J.A. Bayona; Oscar nominated and renowned Hollywood actor, Daniel Brühl; ESCAC Director, Sergi Casamitjana; ESCAC Development Director, Aintza Serra; and Sitges Film Festival Director, Ángel Sala, will shortlist ten projects and subsequently select one winner from the top five finalists.

These finalists will vie for the grand prize: the production of the winning project and an opportunity to make a mark in the film industry. Their proposals will be evaluated for their boldness, vision and original approach, in line with CUPRA’s commitment to challenge the status quo. The winning project will be announced during the 2024 Sitges Film Festival, which is held in Sitges between the 3^rd and 13^th of October.

Projects may be submitted from June 3^rd to June 9^th, 2024, using the form available on the ESCAC website: https://escac.com/desafio-bayona-cupra/. For all information about the Short Film Contest and their rules and conditions, click here.

“This competition is a tribute to the power of cinema and its ability to inspire us all. It’s an honour for me to mentor the next generation of filmmakers and guide them from script to the big screen. Together with CUPRA and ESCAC, we are nurturing the young talent, because we were all young talent once”, added the Spanish filmmaker and CUPRA brand ambassador, J.A. Bayona.

Additionally, CUPRA and J.A. Bayona will invite young filmmakers between 17 and 21 years old to enter another competition to present a short film based on specific themes. The winner will receive a full scholarship to develop their cinematographic talent at the ESCAC. In July, CASA SEAT will host a presentation event for the project, detailing the Film Studies Contest.

The Spanish-German actor and CUPRA brand ambassador, Daniel Brühl added: “These contests are an opportunity for the next generation to showcase their talent and their ability to surprise us. Having the chance to help them to make their dreams come true is a great privilege.”

The world of cinema is constantly in need of new voices that dare to tell new stories. Through these competitions and its continuing sponsorship of the Sitges Film Festival, -the world’s most important cinematic showcase dedicated to fantasy and horror cinema- CUPRA continues to underline its commitment to cinema and creativity to keep inspiring the world from Barcelona.