Llun 15 Chwef 2010

With 80 plus 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 and 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 30 finalists which will next be judged by members of the Zoom Grand Jury before the Zoom Young Filmmakers of 2010 are finally announced at the Zoom Film Festival Awards Ceremony at the Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd, on the 5^th March 2010.

The industry professionals which make up this year’s Grand Jury panel include Professor Hamish Fyfe, University of Glamorgan and Zoom Board Member; Dan Thomas, Education and Exhibition Officer Film agency Wales, Lisa Nesbitt, Director BAFTA Cymru and Zoom’s Director Lisa Davies. She says "Every year I’m amazed at the quality of the work submitted – we’ve really got our work cut out picking this years winning films, but I hope all the filmmakers who entered feel like winners. It’s a massive achievement to get a film made and tell their story."

This competition proves just how talented and media literate young people can be these days and it underlines the importance of Film and media ventures such as Zoom for the future of the industry.

The shortlisted films for 10 of the 11 awards (The Audience Award is voted on during the Festival)in the 2010 categories are:-

Best film in age category 8-13 (Sponsored by BAFTA Cymru)

SCHOOLS OUT Bedlinog Communities First; Merthyr Tydfil

FLAME Sageston CP School; Pembrokeshire

THE MESSAGE Trorchy Comprehensive; Rhondda Cynon Taff

Best film in age category 14- 25 (Sponsored by BAFTA Cymru)

NIGHT OF THE CRABS Film 15; Gwynedd

THE HUB Rhyl Youth Action Group; Denbighshire

THE WHISPER OF TIME Daniele Tose; Dyfed

Best Performance

SYPREIS Galeri Caernarfon; Gwynedd

FLAME Sageston CP School; Pembrokeshire

DRUG DEAL GONE WRONG Mountain Ash Comprehensive, + RCT Key Start programme; Rhondda Cynon Taff

Best Direction

OPEN YOUR EYES Y Pant; Rhondda Cynon Taff

SYPREIS Galeri Caernarfon; Gwynedd

I SO WANT THAT DRESS Bishop Headley High School, Cyfartha High School + Turnip Starfish; Merthyr Tydfil

Best Animated Film

THE WHISPER OF TIME Daniele Tose; Dyfed

THE WRITER, THE THIEF & THE IDEA Treorchy Comprehensive; Rhondda Cynon Taff

I SO WANT THAT DRESS Bishop Headley High School, Cyfartha High School + Turnip Starfish; Merthyr Tydfil

Best Documentary

THE HUB Rhyl Youth Action Group; Denbighshire

FROM DAWN TILL DUSK Neyland Community School; Pembrokeshire

DEAD END St Martins School; Caerphilly

NOW OR NEVER Aimee Pyke; Vale of Glamorgan

Best Fiction

THE MYSTERY OF THE FORGOTTEN SOUL Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School; Rhondda Cynon Taff

SIGNS RCT Community Arts Project; Rhondda Cynon Taff

FLAME Sageston CP School; Pembrokeshire

Best Welsh language film

CYLCHOEDD ROWND Y BYD Ysgol Pendalar, Caernarfon; Gwynedd

COFIS O'R CYCHWYN Galeri Caernarfon; Gwynedd

CAM GWAG Galeri Caernarfon; Gwynedd

The Zoom Award

THE GREAT PIE CHASE Mountain Ash Comprehensive + RCT Key Start programme; Rhondda Cynon Taf

DINOSAUR CRASH Pontymoile Primary School; Torfaen

CYLCHOEDD ROWND Y BYD Ysgol Pendalar, Caernarfon; Gwynedd

Best Music video

SCHOOLS OUT Bedlinog Communities First; Merthyr Tydfil

WE MIGHT ASWELL BE STRANGERS Bridgend College; Bridgend

THE KIKS - LOUDER THAN WORDS Make It 2009 Project; Rhondda Cynon Taff

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 Jenny Bradley on 02920 885505