Thu 08 Jan 2009

With over 80 entries into this year’s Zoom Young Filmmakers Awards short listing films for each category has been a difficult task. With a diverse assortment of films from across Wales choosing a shortlist to be judged by the Grand Jury was easier said than done!!

All filmmakers aged between 8-25 who submitted their work during Wales' International Young People's Film Festival were in with a chance of winning one of the fantastic Zoom Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards. The Zoom Team and Zoom Film Council have shortlisted the 27 finalists which will next be judged by members of the Zoom Grand Jury before the Zoom Young Filmmakers of 2009 are finally announced at the Zoom Film Festival Awards Ceremony at the Muni Arts Centre on the 23rd January 2009.

The industry professionals which make up this years Grand Jury panel included Rhian Brewster, Zoom Board Member; Eve White from the Film Agency Wales; and Berwyn Rowlands, The Festivals Company, involved with Ffresh Film Festival. This competition proves just how talented and media literate young people can be these days and it underlines the importance of media ventures such as Zoom for the future of the industry.

The shortlisted films in the 2009 award categories are:-

Best film in age category 8-13

Buzz buzz buzz Bryn Celynog Comprehensive Rhondda Cynon Taff

Wishing on a Star Valley and Vale Community Arts Bridgend

Tudor Medicine Lamphey Primary School Pembrokeshire

Best film in age category 14- 25

Devil May Care Tonypandy College Rhondda

Running Free First Light Movies Torfaen

Hidden Costs Film 15 Productions Ltd Powys

Best Performance

Soap Barry Comprehensive School Vale of Glamorgan

Dros Ben Llestri GALERI CAERNARFON Anglesey

Double dare Monmouth Film School Monmouthshire

Best Direction (Sponsored by Rhondda Cynon Taff's 14-19 Pathways Programme)

Vince Barry Comprehensive School Vale of Glamorgan

The hunted Merthyr Media Project Merthyr Tydfil

Balloon Barry Comprehensive School Vale of Glamorgan

Best Animated Film

Look at me now Caerphilly Youth Forum Ystrad Mynach

Wishing on a Star Valley and Vale Community Arts Bridgend

Clown and Dog Rhondda Cynon Taff

Best Documentary

Running Free First Light Movies Torfaen

Rhyl's Revival Rhyl Youth Action Group Rhyl

Microtia Merthyr Media Project Merthyr Tydfil

Best Fiction

Hidden Costs Film 15 Productions Ltd Powys

Cyber Bully Valley and Vale Community Arts Bridgend

Chucks Film 15 Productions Ltd Gwynedd

Best Welsh language film

Elvis Preseli Brynffynnon Referral Unit in Y Felinheli Gwynedd

Dros Ben Llestri GALERI CAERNARFON Anglesey

Dei tectif Urdd Cardiff

The Zoom Award

Put down the shanks Dusty Forge Centre Cardiff

Mr. Blaidd Y Dolffin, Pennar Community School Pembrokeshire

Y Siarc, Y. Draig,

Y Aliwn

Riding down hill at Eryl Conwy

Rhydyfoel

The final award, the Zoom Audience Award, will be given to the film that receives the most audience votes throughout festival week. Votes will be accepted by text, on the Zoom website and by secret ballot during the event. This award has kindly been sponsored by Cultural Services Take pART Programme of Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council.

The award ceremony promises to be as exciting as ever where we will unveil who has won the coveted awards. Tickets to the Awards Ceremony are available now and cost £1 each and for an additional £1 tickets can be purchased for the Zoom After Show Party which will be held at Clwb y Bont in Pontypridd.

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For more information contact Rebecca Lee on 01443 413 622

NOTES TO EDITOR

The festival will take place between January 20^th and 23^rd. Zoom 09 will take place at 5 venues across South Wales; Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd; Blackwood Miners Institute, Blackwood; Merthyr College, Merthyr Tydfil; Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale; and Congress Theatre, Cwmbran.

Principal funders;

· The Coalfields Regeneration Trust

· Film Agency for Wales

Partners;

Beaufort Theatre and Ballroom; Blackwood Miners Institute; Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council; Caerphilly County Borough Council; Congress Theatre Cwmbran; Cultural Services Take pART Programme (Sponsor of the Zoom Audience Award); Cyfle; Ffresh, Student moving image council Wales; Green Bay; Merthyr Media Project; Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council; Merthyr College; Octopus; Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council; Rhondda Cynon Taff's 14-19 Pathways Programme; Rhondda Cynon Taff Cultural Service's Take pART programme (Sponsor of the Best Director Award); Skillset Screen Academy Wales; Torfaen County Borough Council; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures UK.

· A PDF of the full festival programme can be downloaded from the Zoom website www.zoomcymru.com

· Sponsorship opportunities are still available; please contact Rebecca for more information.