DEPT Agency wins GOLD at STRAIGHT 8 Shootout 2026

6 July 2026

For anyone who doesn’t know what STRAIGHT 8 is yet… where have you been? The competition is open to any creative company willing to take on the challenge: make a two-and-a-half minute film, shot entirely in-camera on a single cartridge of Super 8 film.

In a world dominated by digital filmmaking, AI and increasingly sophisticated post-production, STRAIGHT 8 sticks two fingers up at all of it. Instead, it returns to the fundamentals, celebrating the glorious, unpredictable beauty of shooting on film. There is absolutely no editing allowed, and because Super 8 doesn’t record sound, every accompanying soundtrack is created ‘blind’ and must be completely original. The very first time each film is seen is when it’s projected onto the big screen for the audience. This year’s premiere took place in Cannes on the morning of Friday 26 June, where a small but devoted crowd gathered to experience the films together for the very first time.

This year, sixteen brave creative companies from around the world entered the 2026 competition, producing what many considered the strongest collection of films in the history of the STRAIGHT 8 shootout Among the entrants were teams from film schools, including one whose students successfully crowdfunded their trip to attend the Cannes screening in person. Stories like these perfectly capture what makes STRAIGHT 8 so special: it’s a competition open to everyone, giving creatives of every background and experience the chance to shine.

DAVID was there to experience the Cannes screening, and the freshly unveiled films certainly didn’t disappoint. Time and again they delivered moments of genuine spectacle, reminding us that creativity is often at its most powerful when stripped back to its purest form. With no opportunity for visual effects, colour grading or digital touch-ups, the films that stood out - and ultimately claimed the top honours - were those that simply told the strongest stories.

The winners were announced a week later in London during a packed follow-up screening at the Prince Charles Cinema.

DEPT Agency took home Gold for 'Love You To Death', an astonishing achievement in both ambition and production quality. Silver went to RAW for 'Party Wall', a charming, funny film built around simple but effective storytelling.

Bronze - and DAVID’s personal favourite - went to Siren Music for 'Cat Cracks the Case'. Hilariously funny and driven by a killer soundtrack, it also served as a fun bit of marketing, showcasing the sound house for what they do best.

If you couldn’t make either screening, don’t worry. This year’s films will be released online shortly, so watch this space.

If you love cinema and want to experience something refreshingly original on the big screen, STRAIGHT 8 screenings should definitely be in your diary.

And if you’re a creative looking to test yourself against one of filmmaking’s purest challenges, entries for the STRAIGHT 8 Shootout 2027 are now open. Sign up at https://www.straight8.net/shootout and we will see you next year!