Michael (11) and Clarissa (10) from Fullers Slade, were mingling with celebrities at the Odeon Leicester Square on Tuesday 28th February when their film Forest’ had a chance to win the award for Best Film by 12s and Under at the First Light Film Awards. Tom (16) and Joe (18) were among other young filmmakers from Milton Keynes who attended the ceremony hopeful that their film ‘Innocent’ would win the award for Best Film by 13s and Over.
The judging panel for the First Light Awards 2006 included: Daniel Craig – the new 007; Martin Clunes – Doc Martin; Martin Freeman - star of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy; Paul Kaye – star of It’s All Gone Pete Tong, Blackball; and prestigious film director Anthony Minghella – Cold Mountain, The Talented Mr Ripley. The standard of films nominated for this year’s awards was very close and the judges had a tough task to allocate the awards as ‘all the films were winners’.
‘Forest’ and ‘Innocent’ were in the last two categories to be judged and after a nervous wait neither won an award! Disappointment was fleeting for the fifteen young filmmakers who attended the ceremony because they felt proud that their films had been seen by such prestigious judges.
The award for Best Film by 12s and Under was presented by Jenny Éclair to the winners from Yorkshire who made ‘No Joy’ - a film that Jenny said ‘genuinely kept me gripped to the very end’. The award for Best Film by 13s and Over was presented by former First Light Film Award winner, Geoff Taylor, for a ‘brilliantly written and thought provoking film with a clever twist’ : ‘Walking and Talking.
‘Forest’ and ‘Innocent’ were made in Milton Keynes by Living Archive Young People’s Film Productions and were supported by the lottery through the UK Film Council’s First Light initiative. Previously Living Archive won the First Light Award in 2004 for Best Documentary.
‘Forest’ - a short animation film made by children aged 9–12 at Queen Eleanor School.
‘Forest’ is a brilliant film made in January 2005 by children from Queen Eleanor School at Galley Hill, Stony Stratford, and local filmmaker, Rachel Wright, leading her first film project with young people. The story and plot, created by the children immediately after the tsunami, work beautifully in this animation. The niaive figures and children’s voices not only depict the age of the group they add an empathetic quality to the story. 'Forest’ provided an opportunity for the children to express their respect for the natural world and their concerns about the power of the sea.
‘Forest’ was screened in October 2005 as part of the OXDOX Film Festival and will be screened in March 2006 as part of the Videotivoli International Film Festival in Finland.
‘Innocent’ - a short horror movie made by young filmmakers from Milton Keynes aged 13 - 18.
‘Innocent’ explores the horror genre, it is well shot and performed and the locations are used to their full potential. Fifteen young people aged 13 - 18, who had some previous experience of filmmaking with Living Archive, were recruited from all around Milton Keynes and selected for particular jobs in a filmmaking company. Guided by professional filmmaker, Faye Gilbert, they were encouraged to develop their skills and gain experience in making a film in the professional way. Young people wrote the script, auditioned and cast the actors, directed, shot and edited the film. 'Innocent’ is their idea and their film.
For further information, please call 01908 322568 or email
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