A BUDDING young filmmaker from Chester is celebrating after scooping an award for her short film which was screened at the 45th Co-operative Film Festival.
Ayesha Tan-Jones, 18, from Chester, who is now at university in London, received the Experimental Filmmaking Advisors’ Choice Award for her film These Scars, which was screened at the National Media Museum in Bradford.
Her film was one of 92 chosen from 162 productions submitted by young filmmakers, schools, youth and art groups, colleges and video workshops from across the UK and beyond.
The Advisors’ Choice awards were introduced this year to recognise films that were particularly strong entries for other creative youngsters to aspire towards.
Nine trophies were awarded across various different categories, including cinematography, animation and music video.
Festival organiser Alicia Walker, project manager at The Co-operative Group, said: “We received some truly fantastic entries to the 45th Co-operative Film Festival, which has been our biggest and best yet.
“The judges thoroughly enjoyed watching every film that was sent in but there were a handful that really stood out as examples for other young filmmakers to follow.
“Our festival advisors chose nine different categories of films that they thought deserved special recognition.”
The Co-operative Film Festival was officially opened by Harry Potter stars Oliver and James Phelps, who play Fred and George Weasley in the films.
It is organised by The Co-operative Group, the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operative, and has provided young people with the opportunity to air their films on the big screen since 1966.
