Big screen honours at film and animation festival (From Milford Mercury)

Big screen honours at film and animation festival

10:20am Thursday 6th August 2009

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The fourth Pembrokeshire Schools Film and Animation Festival took place recently.

The glittering Oscars-style event was bigger than ever this year and showcased 54 films from 23 schools.

Once again school groups gathered on the red carpet at the Merlin Theatre in Haverfordwest, for photographs and interviews.

Organised by Pembrokeshire County Council’s education department, the festival aims to give pupils the opportunity to display their work, as well as view productions made by other pupils.

This year’s festival featured messages of support from Industrial Light and Magic and Aardman Animation. In addition, Film Club made a special visit and ran a workshop.

Festival organiser, Duncan Whitehurst, said: “The standard of film-making this year was higher than ever, so much so that the judges decided to add some extra awards.

“The teachers and pupils have worked so hard in lessons and school clubs to develop technical skills and creativity in the classroom and make this event possible. The involvement of so many national media organisations shows how highly regarded the work produced by Pembrokeshire schools has become.”

All schools received an award for entering their films and a review of their work from an expert panel of judges — Greg David (Planet Sunday Animation), Dave Welton (Animality Productions), Chris Rees and Janice Jenkins (Pembrokeshire College).

The awards were presented by Greg David, Gillian Siddle (British Film Institute) and Eve White (Film Agency Wales), with category winners receiving a Pembrokeshire Razorbill Oscar crafted from recycled aluminium by local sculptor, Sonja Dawn Flewitt.

The winners will go forward to represent Pembrokeshire at the National Schools Film and Animation Awards at the BFI in London in November.

Last year two Pembrokeshire schools — Lamphey and Pennar— were shortlisted for the Welsh Film Awards and five Pembrokeshire schools — Roch; Ysgol Glan Cleddau; Ysgol Y Preseli; Templeton and Pennar — were shortlisted for the national awards, with Pennar and Templeton scooping two top awards for their animations.

The winners were: Best Film or Animation Key Stage One: Pennar Community School.

Best Animation Key Stage Two: Saundersfoot CP and Templeton CP.

Best Film Key Stage Two: Neyland Community School and Mathry VC School.

Best Film or Animation Secondary: Ysgol Y Preseli.

Best Newcomer Key Stage One: Tavernspite CP.

Best Newcomer Key Stage One: Sageston CP.

Best Presenters and Performance: Lamphey CP.

Curriculum Cymreig Award: Hubberston VC School.

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