Regional Film - Yorkshire

THE SEVENTH LEEDS YOUNG PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL HAILED AS BEST EVER

This year’s Leeds Young People’s Film Festival has been hailed as
the best ever by organisers, Leeds City Council.

Initial figures for the seventh annual festival have revealed over 6,000
people attended the screenings from April 6-16, the highest figure in
the history of the event. In addition, the workshops held as part of the
festival were also fully booked-up in record time.

Highlights of the festival included the 3rd National Young Filmmakers
Award Day which saw numerous filmmakers from across the country -
including youngsters from London, Nottingham, Sheffield and Brighton  -
come to Leeds to see their films compete for a cash prize of £250
sponsored by the Louis Le Prince Centre of Cinema, Photography and
Television. Also on hand were industry professionals such as Carole
Dove, the station manager of Propeller TV, and Duncan and Wilma
Finnigan, respected independent filmmakers, to give those in attendance
advice about honing their skills in the film business.

The workshops provided a welcome chance for young people to learn more
about various aspects of the film business. From costume design to
stunts, animation to VJ sessions, there was an opportunity for everyone
to learn new skills and discover the secrets that lurk behind the film
camera. Aardman Animator, Will Beecher, came along to give everyone a
sneak preview of the new film from the Bristol-based studio, whilst
musician Joe Greenfield gave everyone an insight into the processes that
are involved in scoring a film.

The festival culminated in the Film Festival Showcase which saw all the
work made over the previous week premiered on a big screen with a
sell-out audience of young filmmakers and their families looking on.

Director of the Leeds Young People’s Film Festival Debbie Maturi said:

“It’s so heartening to know that the Film Festival has done as well
as it has. With all the input and the enthusiasm of the young people -
whether they’ve been young consultants or filmmakers - the Film
Festival has been the best ever. The Film Festival is looking at a
number of exciting projects to run throughout the year to build on the
phenomenal success we’ve had over the past few weeks.”

For latest details of events and projects around the Leeds Young
People’s Film Festival, visit the website at www.leedsfilm.com


Below are the details of the award-winners from the Seventh Leeds Young
People’s Film Festival:

Winners of the 3rd National Young Filmmakers Award Day
9-14-Year-Old Category
A Story From The Heart
(Dir. Elizabeth Garret Anderson School)
Fairies parade in this magical encounter in the forest

15-19-Year-Old Category
Pipped To The Post
(Dir. Chris Roebuck)
For most people, the journey to work is boring and monotonous. But for
this young couple it is a constant battle, facing new challenges and
obstacles every day.

Jury Award Winners (Juries were made up of young people)
9-14-Year-Old Category
The Ghost Of Canterville (Das Gespenst von Canterville)
(Dir. Isabel Kleefeld, Germany)
10-year-old Paul has a problem - he's scared of everything! He is
scared of swimming, animals, people and the dark. To help him, Paul's
parents think it is a great idea to go on holiday to an old Scottish
castle that's haunted! Will Paul face his fears and the ghost?
Hilarious family comedy based on the Oscar Wilde classic.

The jury chose this film because they liked the fact that the main
character conquered his fears and that the ghost started out as
scary then turned friendly.

15-19-Year-Old Category
Napola
(Dir. Dennis Gansel, Germany)
It is 1942 and the Nazis are at the height of their power in Germany.
Seventeen-year-old Friedrich is from a poor family, but as a talented
boxer is offered a place at NAPOLA, a school for the Nazi elite. Here he
encounters a world of tough military discipline and political
upbringing. Friedrich becomes friends with the Governor's son and they
both struggle with the realisation that everything is not as simple as
it seems.

The jury chose this film because they liked the fact that it was
very moving. It had a big impact and portrayed the feelings of the camp
well, and it made you feel what the characters felt.


Audience Award Winners
Winning Film (Younger Category)
Bonkers
(Dir. Martin Koolhoven, The Netherlands)
Bonnie is nine and loves elephants, so does her whole family. Her mum,
Lis, is not like Bonnie's friends' mothers - sometimes she is very
lively and happy and at other times she can be very sad. She has pills
to take to act "normal" but she doesn't like to take them. One day, Lis
decides to come home with an elephant ...and things really start to get
interesting for Bonnie! A hilarious tale about an unusual family and
elephants!

Winning Film (Older Category):
Napola (See above for information)