CUPRA, J.A. Bayona and ESCAC join forces in search of the next generation of great storytellers

• The Dream Makers initiative presents two competitions to find and encourage young creative talent in film, providing funding to produce a short film and a 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 will select the winner of the “Short Film Contest”. It will be announced during the Sitges Film Festival 2024, to be held from October 3 to 13.
• Projects for the “Short Film Contest” can be submitted from June 3 to 9, 2024 through the form available on the ESCAC website.
• In July, CASA SEAT will host an event to explain all the details of the second contest, the “Film Studies Contest”.

CUPRA continues its mission to foster the next generation of storytellers with “The Dream Makers”, two competitions that will put their talent under the spotlight. Together with Spanish film director and CUPRA Tribe member J.A Bayona and the Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya (ESCAC), the brand is not only opening the stage to creativity, it is also committed to bringing the dreams of young talent to life.

“For CUPRA, these competitions are about more than just an award; they are about inspiring the next generation and giving an opportunity to young talent that has yet to be discovered. As someone who dreamed of directing, I am deeply committed to supporting the next generation of filmmakers,” said Wayne Griffiths, CEO of CUPRA.

The Dream Makers: Short Film Contest

This competition, aimed at young filmmakers between the ages of 22 and 30, seeks innovative, open-ended short film scripts. A distinguished jury, made up of Wayne Griffiths; Oscar-nominated film director, J.A. Bayona; acclaimed Hollywood actor and Oscar nominee, Daniel Brühl; ESCAC director, Sergi Casamitjana; ESCAC development director, Aintza Serra; and Sitges Film Festival director, Ángel Sala, will pre-select ten projects. Subsequently, it will choose a winner from among the five finalists.

Finalists will compete for the grand prize: the production of the winning project and the opportunity to make their mark in the film industry. In line with CUPRA’s commitment to challenge the status quo, proposals will be evaluated for their boldness, vision and original approach. The winning project will be announced during the Sitges Film Festival 2024, to be held between October 3 and 13.

Projects can be submitted from June 3 to 9, 2024 through the form available on the ESCAC website. All the information about the “Short Film Contest” and its rules are available at this link.

“This competition is a tribute to the power of film and its ability to inspire us all. For me it is an honor to mentor the next generation of filmmakers and lead them from script to screen. Together with CUPRA and ESCAC, we are supporting young talent, because we were all young talents once,” added Spanish filmmaker and CUPRA brand ambassador J.A. Bayona.

The Dream Makers: Film Studies Contest

Additionally, CUPRA and J.A. Bayona will invite young filmmakers between the ages of 17 and 21 to participate in another competition in which they must submit a short film on specific themes. The winner will receive a full scholarship to develop their filmmaking talent at ESCAC. In July, CASA SEAT will host the presentation of the project, where the details of the “Film Studies Contest” will be explained.

¡We look forward with great excitement to all your nominations!