THIS year’s SCI-FI-LONDON five minute film in 48hours competition will be judged by a panel including Benedict Cumberbatch.

The challenge was a huge success with over 300 teams participating in the competition all across the country. 180 teams completed the challenge, and the SCI-FI-LONDON team has spent days deliberating over each one, and short-listing the ten best.

Benedict, who will of course be seen in the forthcoming film Star Trek Into Darkness, is the head of the jury, on which he is joined by luminaries including Guillermo Del Toro. 

Previous competition entrants have included Gareth Edwards, whose 2008 win led to a film deal with Vertigo films, and is now directing a big-budget Hollywood remake of Godzilla. The winning film will be announced on May 1 at the Stratford Picturehouse during the festival, at a screening of the ten shortlisted films.

The shortlisted films will be available to view online on Warwick Davies’ The Multiverse film channel on YouTube.com. The channel will also a host a number of runner-up entrants over the coming year, showcasing the best and boldest of home grown talent.

Prizes include £2000 cash, professional video cameras from Canon, a variety of goodies to excite filmmakers, and a development deal with Vertigo Films, who made Monsters with Gareth Edwards.