Scottish young filmmakers' talent shining brightly

According to figures issued by First Light, the Film Council's Lottery initiative for 'inspiring young film', Scotland comes out on top for numbers of projects produced under the scheme and money awarded to filmmakers.
Fourteen Scottish companies have benefited under First Light's schemes, with films entered from areas as far apart as the Isle of Bute in the west, via Lochearnhead to Dundee in the east. So far £207,994 has been awarded toward films in Scotland and several of these went on to win major prizes, in the First Light Awards held recently in London.
Of the nine awards handed out, four came to Scotland. Project Ability in Glasgow, who work with young people with learning difficulties, took best Animation with 'The Story of Geordie Wirrell'. Best Horror went to Mediabase in Edinburgh for 'The Babysitters Worst Nightmare', Best Documentary was won by the City of Edinburgh's Education Department with 'Sabrina's Bollywood' and Isle of Bute based Achievement Bute, who also work with children with learning difficulties, took Best Comedy for the hilarious 'Skunks, Punks and Battlin' Bagpipes'.
Steve McIntyre, Chief Executive of Scottish Screen, said: " Seeing the kind of work the young people are producing makes me very optimistic about the future for the Scottish industry, as it shows how much interest there is in filmmaking and what an amount of creative talent is out there being nurtured by a dedicated group of educators. We are eagerly anticipating the outcome of First Writes, another scheme from First Light being piloted in Scotland this summer, where children get to write scripts for short films for their own age group. It was a very difficult job deciding which three scripts out of the many excellent entries we received, should be chosen to go into production. These children will be mentored right through the production process and their short films will be premiered before an audience of industry professionals and their school friends at the UGC in Glasgow later this year. A very exciting prospect I think you will agree."
To date some 4,000 young people have taken part in the First Light scheme across the UK, producing more than 250 films about their lives and the issues that affect them. Project Ability in Glasgow have just been given a further award of £5,000 to produce a film with youngsters who suffer from Asperger's Syndrome, working alongside children from Hillpark Secondary School. A dozen young people aged between 12 and 18 are expected to take part in this latest project.
(GB)