Youngsters scoop festival prize with their short film

YOUNG filmmakers from a Cardiff high school have been recognised with a national film festival award.

Woodlands High School in Caerau has scooped the inaugural Iris Education Award, as part of the annual Iris Prize Festival.

Iris Education is a project funded by Ffilm Cymru Wales which works with pupils from schools all around South Wales to tackle homophobic bullying.

The students take part in a film programming session, where they watch a carefully selected programme of short films, covering LGBT issues. They then work with the Iris team to create, develop and produce their own short film.

Films are acted and directed by the pupils and shot over a period of a day before being edited by the Iris team and exhibited at the pupils’ own film festival in front of peers.

Woodlands has been involved with the project for a number of years and has produced three short films, the latest of which – Stare, has got the inaugural Iris Education Award.

Woodlands deputy head teacher, Lisa Purcell, said: “We are delighted to have picked up this award and particularly pleased that we were the only special school on the shortlist.

“Our English department has been involved with the project for a while and it’s been great to see some of the students involved in the first film have become mentors to the younger year groups coming through.

“Stare shows our pupils talking about things that make them feel uncomfortable but also what makes them feel good. It’s about recognising and celebrating that we are all different.

“The film was screened at Chapter Arts Centre and the students involved spoke on stage during the festival. Everyone at the school is extremely proud of their efforts and we look forward to continued involvement in the project.”