Youth film festival a winner
Sixty-two people attended the Gisborne Youth Short Film Festival at the Odeon Theatre to see six short films made by Gisborne secondary students. The movies covered a range of genre from zombie comedies to drama with thought-provoking messages, and festival communications director Myles Ashworth (17) said the night was a “really good sign” for the festival’s future.
“It means we might be able to make this something that happens regularly," he said.
“We’re really pleased; it was actually bigger than we thought it would be.”
Five students from Campion College organised the festival. they formed their own events company Torrac, as part of their involvement in the Lion Foundation’s Youth Enterprise Scheme, run here by the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce.
Myles said the idea came about after the group organised a mini film festival at school. That was so successful, they wanted to do something much bigger that would bring student films to the big screen.
The festival was funded from a $1000 grant from Eastland Community Trust, along with prizes and advertising supplied by sponsors.
The award for best overall film on the night went to anti-bullying movie The Stand. Liam Rowe was awarded best actor prize, and Fritha Rau picked up best actress award for her comic turn as an irate bankrupt farmer.
Silent zombie flick The Boom won the award for best use of technology.
Article by Andrew Ashton, Gisborne Herald