Double bill for film festival (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Double bill for film festival

12:00pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News By Joanne Mace

THE work of talented young local film-makers has been screened at the International Children’s Film Festival in Boston.

The Institute of Contemporary Art saw short films Mummy Begins and The Hooded Samaritans on the website of Basingstoke company Filmmaking for Kids, and contacted its founder and director Nick Willoughby to ask if they could be submitted for the festival.

The company runs film-making courses and workshops for young people aged between eight and 15 in Basingstoke. Students work as a team to create their own short film during a two-day course, participating in activities including script writing, directing and editing.

Mummy Begins was shot in October 2010 and The Hooded Samaritans in September 2011, both at the Wessex Christian Fellowship Church Hall, in Kings Furlong.

The work of Katy Robinson, 14, Matt Harrison, 16, Nathan Harrison, 14, Chloe Gill, 12, Adam Jones 10, Gabriel Adams, 13, Callum Simpson 15, Sean Van Den Ordel, 14, Lewis Gorrod, 10, Eloise Spring, 10, Zac Bawa, 10, and Jack O’Hea, 13, was shown alongside that of students from all over the world.

Caroline Elliott, the festival’s curator, said: “I was so delighted to find Mummy Begins and The Hooded Samaritans while researching.

“The calibre of films created by Nick’s students was among the best I found from candidates from around the world.”

Nick said: “It was a huge surprise to be approached by the ICA in Boston, and a real privilege to submit our students’ films to their festival.

“It’s encouraging for our students to know that their films are of festival quality. To me, every film made by our young film-makers is inspiring and it’s a pleasure to see each individual unlock their creative potential.”

The selected films can be viewed online at filmmakingforkids.com.