On Saturday 24th September 2011, The Maltings Theatre & Cinema was home to the most prestigious award for young filmmakers in the North East of England and Scottish Borders. The Chris Anderson Award for Best Young Filmmaker screened in front of an expectant audience of 80, a professional Jury of 3 and with filmmakers representing 8 out of the 10 films selected for the competition.
All competing for the grand prize of £200 and a screening at the Leeds Young People’s Film Festival in 2012, competition was tough and the atmosphere electric.
Jury members Tina Gharavi, North East based Director of I Am Nasrine, Tamara Van Strijthem, Project Manager at Screen Academy Scotland and 8 ½ Foundation and Will Sadler, Managing Director of North East based film production company Arpeggio Films, had the difficult task of choosing the winning film. The philosophy of the competition is to encourage, inspire and promote young people’s filmmaking. To promote the idea that big budgets and professional crews are not essential to create stories, imagination and the fun of making films.
In the end the jury decided the winning film and dedicated two films with a Special Mention. The two Special Mentions were awarded to Voice Of My Own for Driving Me Crazy and Tyneside Cinema Summer School for 12 Angry Myths. The Winning film was Brian & Brian’s Amazing Eggventure Parts I, II & III by 17 year old, Berwick-upon-Tweed based, Mark Boston.
On winning the award Mark said “It was really fantastic to see it on a large screen with an audience, along with the other great works. I hope to continue making films, and the money will certainly help towards my next project.”
Youth Projects Producer Adam Graham said "The Chris Anderson Award is about promoting and encouraging filmmaking by young people but also to inspire and help them continue to bring their stories to life through film. Mark Boston showed incredible passion and enthusiasm and the professional jury rewarded that with the winning prize."
All three films also received a very special extra prize from Hollywood Director Paul WS Anderson and actress Milla Jovovich as they sent personally signed posters for their new film Three Musketeers. Paul WS Anderson is the son of Chris Anderson who the award is dedicated to.
We would like to congratulate all the filmmakers, the winning films, the jury and all those who came to see the films that made this such a tremendous day for young filmmaking.
The films successfully selected for Chris Anderson Award 2011, in running order, were:
Fay’s Woodland
Beth Pearson l Co. Durham l 2011 l 3 min
Fay is drawing a fairy, when her picture appears to magically move and disappear.
Split
Ross Whyatt & Andrew Moy l Whitley Bay l 2011 l 9 min
Jack has always had a crush on his friend Amy, but when he finds out about her fiancé it is all too much for Jack?
12 Angry Myths
Tyneside Cinema Summer School l Newcastle l 2011 l 6 min
Twelve fairytale characters follow in the footsteps of Henry Fonda… But will justice win the day?
Alice’s Adventure in Billingham
Daisy Arts l Co. Durham l 2010 l 7 min
A modern adaptation of the Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ set in and around Billingham.
Deuxspective
Tyneside Cinema Summer School l Newcastle l 2011 l 3 min
A different perspective on events.
Throwing Shapes
Helix Arts l Newcastle l 2011 l 1 min
Animation capturing the lively and vibrant style of a break dancer.
Battered
Northern Stars Academy l Newcastle l 2011 l 7 min
Jamie, the proud owner of a fish and chip shop is terrorised by a group of local youths.
Driving Me Crazy
VOMO l Carlops l 2010 l 11 min
Samantha is so besotted with her boyfriend that she can hardly tear herself away for her driving test.
Brian and Brian’s Amazing Eggventure Parts I, II & III
Mark Boston l Berwick upon Tweed l 2011 l 12 min
A bizarre and surreal adventure about a duck and a gorilla, both named Brian.
Bernard Strong: Lifeguard of the Year
Northern Stars Academy l Newcastle l 2011 l 6 min
A film crew makes a documentary about ‘Lifeguard of the Year’ winner Bernard Strong.