Reduction Study (Ping Pong), Short Film from ASFF

A research-based investigation, Reduction Study (Ping Pong) explores foreign accent perception in relation to social identity and cultural standardisation. In an attempt to understand the concept of reducing one’s native accent the artist, who speaks English as her second language in the United States, takes part in an accent reduction class. She has interviewed linguists, accent coaches and students to discover more about what an accent can represent as part of one’s identity. The ping pong balls in the film are symbols for communication and miss-communication. This film featured in the Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) 2012 and was included in the Artists’ Films series. There is still chance to submit a short film for ASFF 2013, which runs 7 – 10 November across the city of York. The final deadline for submissions is 31 May.

ASFF allows for both budding and established filmmakers to connect with new, worldwide audiences and interact with some of the biggest personalities in the film industry today. High profile attendees in 2012 included representatives from Warp, BAFTA, Channel 4 and Raindance. Over 200 films will be screened at this unique event, in 15 iconic locations across the historic city of York, uniting a stunning setting with cultural experience.

In addition to great exposure at the festival, the Winner will receive £750 among other prizes and screenings at a number of other UK festivals; the People’s Choice Winner will receive £250. A shortlist of finalists will be included on the ASFF Sampler DVD, which will be distributed with the December 2013 issue of Aesthetica Magazine, the international arts and culture publication. Finalists will also be included in an editorial feature in the magazine, which has a worldwide audience of 140,000.

ASFF are looking for films 25 minutes and under of all genres to screen at the festival in November 2013. Entry is £15 and the deadline for submissions is 31 May 2013. For more information, please visit www.asff.co.uk.

Credits
1. Reduction Study (Ping Pong), Joanna Tam, courtesy of Vimeo.