Young Welsh film-makers triumph at UK awards
YOUNG Welsh film-makers beat off stiff competition from across the UK to win two coveted awards at the fourth annual Into Film Awards at the BFI in London.
Students from Coleg Sir Gâr in Llanelli, Camarthenshire, won Club of the Year (age 13 and over), while Dyffryn Nantlle Film Club, in Gwynedd, won Best Live Action (age 12 and under) for their Welsh-language horror short entitled Swyn.
The third nomination from Wales – teacher Tim Dadds of Cwmrhydyceirw Primary School – narrowly missed out on the Educator of the Year award.
Hosted by Into Film and supported by the BFI through Lottery funding, the nominees were honoured at a star-studded red-carpet ceremony at BFI Southbank.
Coleg Sir Gâr’s student-run club was praised for offering an inclusive and supportive learning environment, while Swyn was commended for its all-female, all-Welsh production.
The awards pay tribute to outstanding five to 19-year-olds from across the UK who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in film-making and film reviewing. Hundreds of young people submitted their own short films and film reviews, with nominations exploring a wide range of themes and issues including bullying, history and immigration.
Coleg Sir Gâr pupil Ioan said: “It’s been fantastic to come here and celebrate the work we’ve been doing in Llanelli over the past 12 months with our very own Into Film Club. We spend time reviewing films, visiting studios in Cardiff and meeting stars like Rhys Ifans, so it doesn’t even feel like work.”
Dyffryn Nantlle pupil Danielle, 10, said: “It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to win an award for best action film under 12 years. It’s incredible to think this small film, which we created in just four days, has been so successful in a large competition like the Into Film Awards. I’ve been working very hard towards my career of working in film, stage and television, so to win a film award makes me very excited. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Fellow film-maker Begw, 12, said: “I am proud to win an Into Film award after all the hard work we have put into it. Also it was amazing to work with great people, which really built up my confidence. Great experience.”
The award-winning members of Coleg Sir Gar’s Into Film Club are aged between 16 and 19, and run the club entirely by themselves. The members also make and show their own films.
All winners were selected by a panel of industry leaders including James Bond franchise producer Barbara Broccoli, Billy Elliot actor Jamie Bell, Peter Lord of Aardman Animations, casting director Lucy Bevan and Free Fire director Ben Wheatley.