London: Young people from throughout the UK including Aberdeen, Dorset, Milton Keynes, Manchester and Leeds scooped top film awards at the star-studded First Light Movies Awards ceremony today (Tuesday).
Young filmmakers, aged between six and 18-years-old, triumphed in nine categories, including Best Screenplay, Best Comedy and Best Horror, for their short digital films made with National Lottery money.
They picked up the prizes at a glittering awards ceremony in Leicester Square which was attended by film and television stars including Imelda Staunton, Sean Bean and Alex Zane.
Judges praised the mini-movies applauding the interesting subject matters and excellent technical achievements.
This year's First Light Movies Awards were attended by more than 200 young people as well as celebrities and film industry executives. The awards have been dubbed Britain's own Mini Oscars®.
First Light Movies provides funding and expertise for five to 18-year-olds throughout the UK to make films using National Lottery money through UK Film Council funding.
The ceremony, held at the Odeon West End in the heart of London, featured a specially-recorded message of support from 007 Daniel Craig who sent his best wishes via videolink from Los Angeles.
First Light Movies Chief Executive Pip Eldridge said: "We are so incredibly proud of the young people's achievements and the excellent films they've produced.
Now in its fifth year, the First Light Movies Awards keep going from strength-to-strength.
The terrific atmosphere of today's ceremony alongside such wonderful support from celebrities and members of the film industry is testament to the hard work, imagination and creativity of all the young filmmakers."
First Light Movies celebrated the achievements of this year's young filmmakers at a reception held at 11 Downing Street on the eve of the ceremony with Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown MP.
At the reception Gordon Brown praised First Light Movies saying: "First Light Movies is a great organisation and this a great week for film in Great Britain because of the Oscar success of The Queen and The Last King of Scotland."
"First Light Movies is a hugely successful organisation that has enabled thousands of young people to make films."
"These films are full of energy, creativity and talent in so many different areas and I'm sure the First Light Movies Awards winners will be Oscar winners at some point in the future - all down to the hard work of this organisation."
UK Film Council Chief Executive Officer John Woodward said: "First Light Movies gives children and young people a unique opportunity to channel their creativity into making films.
"The UK Film Council is delighted to support this project and the benefits that First Light Movies has brought to thousands of youngsters, from all backgrounds, across the UK."
ENDS
First Light Movies Contacts:
Clare Lewis
Marketing & Communications Manager
T: 020 7323 1941 / 0121 753 4866
M: 07967792358
E: clare@firstlightmovies.com
Will Mapplebeck
Freelance PR and Journalism
M: 07932568571
E: willmapplebeck@mac.com
Notes for editors:
1. First Light Movies was launched in May 2001 to fund and inspire the making of short digital films, reflecting the diversity of young people's lives. First Light Movies is an initiative supported by the UK Film Council with Lottery funding.
2. To date First Light Movies has given more than 10,000 young people the chance to write, act, shoot and produce over 750 films under the guidance of professional filmmakers. First Light Movies works in association with youth agencies, schools, colleges, production companies and film clubs throughout the UK. Some young filmmakers have used First Light Movies as a stepping stone to gain work experience in the film industry.
3. For more information about First Light Movies and other projects log on to www.firstlightmovies.com
4. First Light Movies was established by Hi8us Projects in 2001 and has a long history with Hi8us Projects Limited. Under the guidance and expertise of Hi8us, First Light Movies has changed the lives of many young people. Hi8us nurtured the young company and enabled it to develop into the thriving organisation that it is today. Hi8us' history and foresight helped First Light Movies to work with funding bodies enabling it to forge relationships with many schools, filmmakers, film groups, youth groups and cinemas to produce films that articulate the concerns and interests of many young people.
5. The UK Film Council is the lead agency for film in the UK ensuring that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented at home and abroad. We invest Government grant-in-aid and Lottery money in film development and production; training; international development and export promotion; distribution and exhibition; and education. Our aim is to deliver lasting benefits to the industry and the public alike through:
• creativity – encouraging the development of new talent, skills, and creative and technological innovation in UK film and assisting new and established film-makers to produce successful and distinctive British films;
• enterprise – supporting the creation and growth of sustainable businesses in the film sector, providing access to finance and helping the UK film industry compete successfully in the domestic and global marketplace;
• imagination – promoting education and an appreciation and enjoyment of cinema by giving UK audiences access to the widest range of UK and international cinema, and by supporting film culture and heritage.
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