Bursary For Film-Maker's Chinese Mission

A University of Ulster student has beaten off competition from young UK film-makers to win a bursary to help him make his dissertation documentary in China.
Ryan Xiayang Wu, 25, was one of just four emerging film-makers chosen in a nationwide competition by the charity, One World Media, to receive support from its Student Documentary Fund 2009.
He is a student on the MA Documentary Practice course based in the School of Media, Film and Journalism at the Coleraine campus.
Ryan will return to his native country to begin filming The End Of The Rainbow, which tells the story of a 16-year-old boy living in rural China who must give up his family and home life to set out alone on a daunting, life changing journey to Guangzhou city in search of work.
Ryan said: "The rural areas have traditionally suffered from low economic development, thus forcing the children of impoverished families to migrate to the cities.
"But now the cities are grossly overcrowded and the global financial crisis means that many industries are collapsing and factories closing. China is in economic crisis. This boy's story is the human face of that crisis. Compared with other documentary films about China this will be a film made by an insider for a worldwide audience."
Dr Cahal McLaughlin, MA Documentary Practice Course Director, commented: "We are very pleased that this is the second year in a row that a student from our course has won this prestigious bursary."
Signe Glan, Deputy Director of One World Media, explained: "We had a high number of quality applicants this year - 22 - from an unprecedented number of film schools - 13. This resulted in a very competitive scheme, especially as we only had a total of five bursaries to give out."
One World Media is a UK-based organisation which aims to increase global understanding through effective use of the media.
(KMcA/BMcC)