Ysgol Cefn Coch Recognised At UK-Wide Film Awards

Pupils from Ysgol Cefn Coch in Penrhyndeudraeth have scooped a top award at the 2017 Into Film Awards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The pupils were recognised for their short film entitled Ysbryd (Ghost) at a star-studded red carpet ceremony in London, which was attended by luminaries from the film industry. The film was awarded top prize in the ‘Best Live Action, 12 and Under’ category. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The awards, which pay tribute to outstanding 5 to 19 year olds who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in filmmaking and film reviewing are hosted by Into Film, the education organisation supported by the BFI through National Lottery funding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The captivating, seven minute film, which was made by a group of Year 6 pupils without any outside expertise, was shot entirely on an iPhone, and edited with help from on-line special effects tutorials that the students found themselves. In the film, ‘Ysbryd’, the school comes under attack from a ghost – until three feisty pupils who are in detention come to the rescue. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The pupils had obviously enjoyed the experience of producing the film as well as being recognized at the awards ceremony. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lois, who’s 11 said: “It feels amazing to win this award because we haven’t been able to do something like this before.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

10-year-old Gwenno, noted: “It feels amazing because we’ve learnt alot of things by making the film. I would like to make films when I’m older.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Arwyn Thomas, Head of Education for Gwynedd Council has written to the school to congratulate them on their achievement. He said: “Many congratulations to Ysgol Cefn Coch on their achievement. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The fact that the film produced by the pupils came first throughout Britain is a faether in the cap of everyone involved in the project – pupils and staff who worked so hard on produing the film. Congratulaintion to everyone involved at Ysgol Cefn Coch.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Best Live Action: 12 and Under award was sponsored by Saban’s POWER RANGERS, and was presented by actor Eleanor Matsuura and TV presenter Lizo Mzimba. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lizo Mzimba said: “Film has an incredibly valuable role in education. Film is about storytelling and seeing that on the screen is a way they can explore that themselves. Whether they want to go into the film industry or not it teaches them about working with technical things, about teamwork – these are all valuable skills. It’s also brilliant fun.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Into Film aims to put film at the heart of young people’s education, contributing to their cultural, creative, academic and personal development. Working with the education sector, film industry and arts and cultural organisations, Into Film is available to every school, college and youth group across the UK and gives children and young people the chance to experience film creatively and critically, as well as learn about the film industry and careers within it. Its film clubs and annual Into Film Festival provide numerous opportunities for teaching and learning through film, including access to a diverse catalogue of films, special events and activities, and resources which seek to ignite and cultivate the interest of all young people regardless of their background or ability. Training, CPD and resources are provided to give teachers and youth leaders the tools to support engagement at all levels and promote the use of film as a powerful education resource. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Into Film Awards is made possible with support from the film industry through sponsorship; its education partner this year is NATE (National Association for the Teaching of English) and Universal Pictures International is its Event Partner. Additional sponsors include Sony Pictures Releasing UK, IMDb, EON Productions, Warner Bros. Creative Talent, Saban’s POWER RANGERS, The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund, Independent Talent Group, Pinewood Studios Group, The Special Treats Production Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, IM Global, supported by UK Space Agency and Empire Design, and in association with First News. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ysbryd, the film produced by Ysgol Cefn Coch pupils can be seen here: https://www.intofilm.org/news-and-views/articles/ysbryd-ghost-awards-winner ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​