Electric December, Watershed's annual short film competition, is here - ready to make December just that little bit more joyous with an outstanding online showcase of 24 short films from across Europe - one for each day of advent.

This year we are thrilled to have received over 70 entries from across the UK and Europe including Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Romania and Poland. The final 24 films for Electric December's fourteenth edition were all selected due to their imaginative and distinctive style.

In the run up to the festive period you can go online every day to select a different film and enter a new world. This year, you could find yourself with the Clairvoyant, Mystic Maggie, laughing with the staff of Hotel Talk To The Hand or meeting Italian cycling super hero Mailman.

Watershed co-curates Electric December with a group of Bristol BTEC media students whose enthusiasm and hard work have played a pivotal role in making the countdown so exciting. Teenage students from Bristol’s Fairfield High School acted as Electric Ambassadors and helped to create the website, designed promotional materials and sat on the jury selecting the 24 films, with the help of students from Redland Green School, Filton's Stroud & Gloucester College and St Bede's Catholic College, Bristol.

Hannah Higginson, Watershed’s Engagement projects producer says:

“I’ve been knocked out by the huge amount of flair and talent on show this year. At Watershed we are committed to developing new talent and it’s a joy to see the exciting range of films from across Europe. It’s been a privilege to work with the Bristol students to produce both the showcase and launch event and I’m sure they will go on to great things in the future.”

Andy Gove, Head of Media Studies at Fairfield High School's says:

"Year on year I feel hugely privileged to work with such creative and motivated Media Students. Watershed's Electric December competition showcases the exciting, meaningful and productive relationships that can, and should, exist between the Creative Media Industries and the secondary education sector."

The Electric December Awards were presented by the students on Fri 30 Nov in front of the Lord Mayor, Bristol’s thriving media community and young filmmakers. And this year's talented winners are: Best Documentary - Adrenaline Junkie made by Lydia St Phillip; Best Comedy - Asking Out Tim made by Tiverton High School and My Pockets; Best Film Made by Primary School Aged Children - The Helpful Dead made by Wyke Regis Junior School; and finally Best Animation - Hunt (Polowanie) made by Agnieszka Konarska. Congratulations to all our winners!

Continuing with the Festive theme you can catch some gems from Electric Decembers past as part of Bristol’s Harbour Wonderland, a free sound and light spectacle happening at the Harbourside Wed 19 – Sat 22 Dec. Take some inspiration and get entering for 2013 – the call for entries opens in the New Year!

Electric December is a Watershed project in collaboration with Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival as part of Fresh Flix 2012 with support from Bristol City Council and Arts Council England.

---