First Light Movies Awards 2007

FILMS MADE BY NORTHWEST YOUNG PEOPLE NOMINATED FOR FIRST LIGHT MOVIES AWARDS

A STAR-STUDDED judging panel including Titanic star Kate Winslet and British movie director Sir Alan Parker are to cast their expert eyes over First Light Movies funded films made by young people from Manchester and Liverpool.

The three mini-movies have been nominated in the Best Animation, Best Horror and Best Comedy categories of the First Light Movies Awards 2007 - the UK's very own Mini Oscars®.

Every Street Dreams was made by a group of 12 young people aged between 14 and 18 working with Manchester's Cornerhouse. The film uses animation based on interviews to bring people's dreams to life and was made using approximately £5,000 of National Lottery funding through a First Light Movies Studio Award.

The Caretakers is a classic zombie horror made by 12 young people aged up to 18 that was filmed in the city's historic Victoria Baths. Young people worked with Manchester's Kino Screen to produce the movie, which was made using approximately £5,400 National Lottery funding through a First Light Movies Studio Award.

Short film Luv Texty has also been nominated in the Best Comedy category. Luv Texty is a tale of unrequited love that combines modern phone technology with 19th century poetry. It was made by a group of 15 to 18-year-olds working with Liverpool's Valley Community Theatre. The film was made using approximately £4,900 of National Lottery funding through a First Light Movies Studio Award.

The three short films, shot using digital technology, are up against films from across the UK which will all be watched and rated by the First Light Movies Awards judging panel.

Other members of this year's judging team include Hollywood actress Minnie Driver, Stormbreaker star Alex Pettyfer, Billy Elliot director Stephen Daldry and comedienne Catherine Tate.

Winners will be announced at a red-carpet event hosted by Alex Zane - presenter of Channel Four's Popworld - at the Odeon West End, London, on Tuesday 27 February 2007.

First Light Movies provides funding and expertise to help five to 18-year-olds, throughout the UK from varying backgrounds, create their own films using National Lottery money through UK Film Council funding.

Through First Light Movies’ grants young people are given the opportunity to work alongside professional filmmakers and are involved with every aspect of filmmaking from forming the idea and the script to directing and editing.

First Light Movies Chief Executive Pip Eldridge says: "We're amazed by the quality of this year's First Light Movies Awards nominees. They prove that the next generation of UK filmmakers is thriving.

"This level of talent means this year's awards should be particularly memorable and I'm really looking forward to the ceremony."

The fifth First Light Movies Awards will be attended by leading figures from the worlds of television and film. Schools, youth groups and other organisations from across the UK are all vying for awards in nine categories including Best Screenplay and Best Animation.

First Light Movies Chair Barbara Broccoli producer at James Bond production company EON, added: "I'm really proud to be associated with First Light Movies and I hope that many of the young people who have created these excellent nominated films will go on to work in the British film industry."