Goole young film-makers get London premiere (22/06/2011)
Two young directors from Goole, who recently took part in a film-making project run by community arts organisation Junction with support from Screen Yorkshire, have been selected to have their films premiered at a high profile screening at the Institute for Contemporary Arts in London. They were selected from hundreds of applicants for the London Screening of Straight8 - a film competition like no other, in which entrants are provided with 8mm film and only get one shot at capturing their short movie.
There is no opportunity to edit what has been filmed, and the first time the filmmakers see their work will be at the premiere at the ICA on The Mall in London on Monday 25 July at 8.45pm. Each applicant sends their unprocessed reel of film to the festival, who then develop it, view it and make their selections. Due to the tough challenge of making the film, it is usually experienced film-makers and degree-level film students that enter their work – it is very rare that young people get such an opportunity to have their work shown at this level. Goole Straight8 was a project that made three films to enter, and two of these films have been selected from hundreds to be screened with around thirty others in London.
Straight8 Festival organiser Will Cummock said 'Straight 8 is a tough challenge for any filmmaker, so it's fantastic to see young people taking it on so successfully. 2011 has been one of our most competitive years to date so the standard of selected films is particularly high.'
Harvey Griffin (aged 14) who directed a short film entitled Going Up also featured young crew members and young actors from Goole. Harvey is pleased to have been selected for the screening and is looking forward to seeing his film for the first time.
Hannah Turner (aged 12) made her first film aged 7. Her film Man from the Moon features animation and again used young cast and crew from Goole. Hannah is ecstatic to have been selected for the London screening and hopes this could be the first of many premieres in the capital.
Nicola Dixon Youth and Community Arts Co-ordinator at Junction said 'We are immensely proud of what these young people have achieved; they really put so much hard work into the planning and creativity in these films. I'm so pleased that they have been chosen to premiere in London, a great opportunity for 2 teenagers from Goole to showcase the fantastic talents the youth of Goole has to offer.'
Goole Straight8 project was a 6 month film project for young people held at Junction, led by professional film-maker David Bunting of Duchy Parade Films. David says 'I'm so pleased for the young people, this is a hard film competition – there is no young people's category, no special favours because they are young people – their films have been chosen on merit alone. Well done to all involved'
Goole Straight8 was made possible by a grant from Screen Yorkshire and UK Film Council through the Regional Investment Fund for England.
Jay Arnold, Head of Cultural Sector Development at Screen Yorkshire says 'Screen Yorkshire is delighted to congratulate Hannah and Harvey on their success and very proud to have been able to support Goole Straight8. To get through to this stage in an international filmmaking competition is a fantastic achievement and testament to the team at Junction who work incredibly hard to ensure that young people in Goole have access to such life shaping opportunities.'
Junction: www.junctiongoole.co.uk
Straight8: www.straight8.net
