Glitzy Award Ceremony For Talented Young Film Makers

Firstlight Film AwardsA local film group based in Armley fought off stiff competition from hundreds of other young filmmakers all over the UK to be nominated for Best Film by Over 13’s and Best Comedy at the prestigious First Light Awards 2010.

The teenagers of LS12 Film have been invited to the glitzy award ceremony on 2 March, which will be held at the Odeon Cinema on Leicester Square in London, presented by BBC favourites Dick and Dom. The panel of judges consist of a number of big names in film and TV; including internationally renowned director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition), actor and comedian Ben Miller (Armstrong and Miller) and actor Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love).

Hayley Butler who plays boisterous bully Topaz says, “I’m so excited for the awards, I already know what I’m wearing!”

LS12 Film are a group of talented young film makers who attend Interplay Theatre in Armley and make films about issues that are central to their lives. Working alongside industry professionals the young people create high calibre films in and around their community whilst honing their skills in script writing, editing, directing and set design.

Selected by a panel of judges is One Man’s Walk, a story by Kenneth and Nicholas Mitchell, chosen for the Best Film by Over 13’s category. Kenneth has Downs Syndrome and the film is a window into his life and his favourite things. Chosen for the Best Comedy category is Show and Tell, a story written by Tanith Parker. Main character Topaz torments her friends and teachers with her fiendish behaviour but when her Grandma is in the picture she acts as good as gold. A story of an angel on the surface but a devil in disguise, Show and Tell is a wicked story of a girl with two sides.

First Light is supported by the National Lottery, the UK Film Council and DSCF and fund projects similar to LS12 nationwide. Since its launch in 2001 First Light helped over 30,000 young film makers achieve their goals and saw many go on to pursue courses in media, film making and theatre.

Interplay Theatre is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year. The company engages young people across all artforms, creating theatre, music, visual arts, radio and film. Artistic Director Steve Byrne is delighted that the young people’s work is being celebrated at this major event; “I think it’s fantastic that these young people have come so far so quickly. We only started 2 years ago but the skills and the hard work they bring to the telling of their stories is simply amazing!”