Budding young filmmakers recognised at 4th Moving Image Awards

Talented young filmmakers have been recognised for their outstanding work at the fourth annual Moving Image Awards in a ceremony held at the British Film Institute in London.

Students, teachers and parents from schools and colleges from across the UK attended the ceremony to celebrate the success of talented young directors, screenwriters and producers whose work was shortlisted.

Elliot Collier, 18 from Newcastle-Under-Lyme College in Staffordshire, won the award for best short film and was selected as overall winner for his mystery drama film, The Last Reel, which tells the emotional story of a man looking back over his life.

Elliot said: "I'm still in shock that I've won! It was really unexpected. I'm currently studying TV and Radio at the University of Salford and am hoping to go into TV and film, it's something I'm really passionate about. This competition has given me that push to keep going. I enjoyed Film Studies at college so much, and I think watching all these different films just inspired me to make something myself. The thought of being able to look at something on a big screen and think, 'wow, I made it!' is really exciting."

The Moving Image Awards, designed in partnership with the British Film Institute, recognises and rewards the UK's most talented student filmmakers and screenwriters, encouraging more young people to consider a career within the film industry.

Every year, students undertaking WJEC Eduqas qualifications in Film and Media Studies are invited to submit their work for consideration by a panel of judges, with awards for the best short film, best TV extract, best film extract, best music video, best screenplay and one overall winner.

Other awards went to; Georgia Sullivan from Farnborough for her TV extract Everybody Loves Lauren, Ella Simpson from Sheffield for her film extract Scarlet's Vow, Keisha Walters and Lauren Taylor from London for their music video Us Against Them and Elijah Stratford from Grimsby for his screenplay Hydro.

The ceremony has gained recognition from teachers and lecturers of film and media courses at institutions across the UK, as well as leading figures in the film industry. This year's star was Kate Leys, Script Editor for indie hits including Slow West, Lady Macbeth and Churchill.

Kate said: "The stories that were on show today were just extraordinary, I was so blown away. There was a huge range of talent here today. The films were funny, frightening, weird, gothic, absolutely everything you can imagine, but it was the quality that impressed me most. I think maybe there's something about film makers who start out older; they might hold back, be afraid or potentially embarrassed. These young people just went for it, and actually that's what works."

Rebecca Ellis, WJEC Eduqas Film Studies subject officer, said: "Each year we're astounded by the high standard of the entries to these awards, and this year was no exception. We received over 400 entries from 150 centres across the UK and the judges found it incredibly difficult to choose just one winner from each category. It's incredibly exciting to have the opportunity to showcase and reward work by such talented young people who have the potential to achieve great things within the film industry and beyond.

"Elliot's entry immediately stood out as an imaginative and highly original idea. The entire judging panel was moved by The Last Reel and commended Elliot on the sensitive execution of this heart-warming piece."