ITV Tyne Tees content editor Alex Watson hosted the festival, which included industry networking and a mini-masterclass in camera work. Kia Pegg and Connor Lawson from CBBC show The Dumping Ground, which is filmed in the North East, were special guests. 

 

The festival has been running for more than 20 years and celebrates work from students, schools and colleges. In total, this year, there were 49 entries from young film­ makers, from 13 institutions or on an individual basis. 

 

Stratford Upon Avon College won the Drama award for God Save Us All and Francesca Colpitts-Swaby was commended for Secrets. In Entertainment, Durham Sixth Form Centre’s Emily Taylor won for her music video What Makes You Beautiful. 

 

Carlisle College’s Josh Doggart, Richard Dent, Hayden Leeks, Grant Lywood, Dean Brown and Luke Davidson received a commendation for the  Factual entry Cardiac Arrest in the Workplace. 

 

The Professionally Supported category is for entries where young people have received support from industry professionals. The field was smaller this year, with no entries in the Entertainment category, but the standard remained high.

 

Tyneside Cinema, in collaboration with BFI Fiction Academy and Northern Stars Documentary Academy, collected both Drama and Factual awards. Body Burying, by Anna Emmerson Robinson, Phoebe Hay, Patrick Bell, Finn Smith Ogg and Eva Sykes, triumphed in Drama. Still Life, directed by Amy Jobe, with Freya Tarn-Chapman, Rebecca Burgess and Rowan Hodgson, won the Factual award. 

 

“The festival is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and encourage the young talent in the region. I’m very proud of the effort, enthusiasm and passion the students show,” said Victoria Griffin, who took over from Tony Edwards as festival director this year. 

 

She added: “It is a great privilege to be able to bring together the next generation of professionals with the current industry.”