Talented young filmmakers recognised at USW awards

The University of South Wales has celebrated the brilliant work using film and TV by young people in schools and colleges with a series of awards.

The Film & TV School Wales Schools and Colleges awards were created in partnership with Into Film Cymru and Screen Alliance Wales to recognise young people’s love of film, spotlight some of our finest rising stars and honour our most influential educators.

The second annual awards took place online on Monday (21 September) and celebrated work from pupils at schools and colleges across Wales and the South West of England.

The winners were as follows:

Best Narrative Film (Fiction)

Age 11-15 category: Ail Law by Nantlle Film Club. This film was made over four days by a group of nine people with a mentor. The crew split every role, including scripting, acting, directing, camera, sound and editing. Watch the film here

Age 16-19 category: Isolation by Ewan French, Screenology Film School. This film centres around Joey, who finds the lockdown due to Covid-19 very lonely. It aims to provide a solution on how to stay positive and not lose sense of yourself. Watch the film here

Best Narrative Film (Documentary)

Age 11-15 category: The Wonderful World of Hedgehogs by Dylan Allman, Monmouth School for Boys. Dylan made the documentary after discovering hedgehogs in his garden during lockdown, hoping to inspire people of all ages to make their gardens more welcoming to hedgehogs and reverse their declining numbers. The film has since been sent into BBC’s Countryfile after impressing the judges. Watch the film here

Age 16-19 category: Nameless Faceless by Amy Farrer, Matt Wingfield and Sophie Harrison, Heart of Worcestershire College. This film uncovers a side of the music industry which is less talked about, and forces us to think about why certain societal norms are the way they are. Watch the film here

Best Non-Narrative, Experimental or Animated Film

Age 11-15 category: On the beach by Scott Hinchcliffe, Ysgol Parc Y Bont

Age 16-19 category: Oddities and Wonders made by 16-19 year olds as part of the BFI Film Academy at Media Active. This film uses animation and experimental filmmaking to convey a playful adventure into the weird and wonderful theatrical world of the Music Hall. Watch the film here

Best Film Review

Age 11-15 category: Seren Dibble from Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, for her review of The Imitation Game. Watch Seren's interview here

Age 16-19 category: Hedydd Ioan from Into Film Cymru Youth Advisory Council, for his review of Good Will Hunting. Watch Hedydd's interview here

Tom Ware, Director of Production & Performance at USW, said: “It is a real pleasure to celebrate the phenomenal TV and filmmaking talent of these young people. The standard of entries was very high again this year, and we were particularly impressed at the amazing creative work produced by all the participants during an unsettling time.”

Rhys Bebb, Welsh Language Training and Education Officer at Screen Alliance Wales, said: “We at Screen Alliance Wales seek to educate and inspire young people by highlighting the TV and Film work taking place in their local areas. We also ensure that they are better informed of the potential opportunities to take their first steps into a career into the industry. It’s therefore been a pleasure to take part in the judging of these awards once again this year.

“We’ve been impressed by the broad range of genres explored by the entrants and how their excellent cinematography skills have been used to benefit their storytelling. Congratulations to everyone.”

Hywel Roberts, Programme Delivery Co-ordinator at Into Film Cymru, added: “Into Film Cymru are proud to support these awards which aim to showcase and celebrate filmmakers of the future, and this is at the heart of our work to support teachers and young people to harness it and develop their film literacy, film reviewing and filmmaking skills. Congratulations to all the nominees.”