Still from Bitch in Heat, a runner-up in our one-minute film challenge. Photograph: /GuardianWitness
Way back in July we set readers a challenge – to make a one-minute short film on the subject of Heat .
The response was fantastic – you can view all of the entries on GuardianWitness , plus a special mention goes to 12-year-old Casper Webb, who didn't manage to upload his film on time, but it can be viewed here on YouTube .
All the submissions have been viewed by the Guardian film team, and below we count down our top five, as selected by judges Catherine Shoard, Henry Barnes and Andrew Pulver. The winning film will be revealed on the Guardian Film Show this Friday – and we'll be launching a new one-minute film challenge next week.
Fifth place: Fireplace by Max McL My name is Max and I'm 15 years old. Through watching many film-noir classics such as The Big Sleep, The Maltese Falcon and many more, I found myself wanting to make a short film in the style of film-noir.
Fourth place: Bitch in Heat by AnnaCarpen This film aims to explore the theme of ‘heat’ in the context of relationships. I wanted the audience to feel the writer of the letter is in the wrong, until the very last moment when all is revealed…
I have had Roo for three weeks now. He doesn’t know why his owners gave him away, but I get the feeling he blames himself.
In this case, Roo attributes his re-homing to his sexual behaviour with another dog, a ‘bitch on heat’.
Third place: Ashes by ID1198765 The course of true love never did run smooth.
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Second place: Feeling the Heat by David Hunter and Mark Wilson A short by first time film-makers David Hunter & Mark Wilson. Starring Giani Raucci & Ally MacIver featuring the royalty free track 'Moon Bossa' by Emilio Merone (purchased from melodyloops.com).
• Watch this week's Guardian Film Show to find out the film our judges awarded first place.