Junior Rotherham film-makers work to be screened internationally

JUNIOR film-makers from Rotherham are going on the international stage after their work was selected for three European festivals.

The youngsters are involved in the Pitchfork Film project an enterprise initiative teaching pupils from schools across Rotherham creative and ICT skills.

And they were over the moon to learn that the films they have directed and produced will appear at three film festivals across the world.

Stacey Almond, project co-ordinator, said: "This is very exciting news and represents international recognition of our young people's creative and technical talent.

"The pupils feel really proud of their work and said that making the films was great fun."

The Spot, a collaboration between year three pupils from Roughwood School and students from Wingfield Business and Enterprise College, has been selected for the Electric December Festival in Bristol.

Donkey and Bob, also made by Roughwood Primary School, and The Spot have both been selected for the 12 and under programme at Fresh Flix: Young People's Short Film Festival 2009. 

Donkey and Bob and A Single Trace, made by Wingfield Business and Enterprise College students, have been selected for the competition section of the 9th European Meeting of Camera Zizanio Young Peoples' Audio-visual Creation.

The films Lab Disaster, made by year five pupils from Ferham Primary School, and The Spot, have been selected for screening at the informative section of the Greek festival in Pyrgos, close to the ancient site of Olympia on December 12.

Alison Hartley, a teacher at Roughwood School, added: "The film making project was an incredible opportunity for children to see that their ideas and imagination are of exceptional value and can become reality.

"They were able to develop many skills from team work and communication to innovation, creativity and ICT."

North West Rotherham Action Zone co-ordinated the project in partnership with C Media Productions and funding came from First Light Movies.