Young film-makers are buoyant after winning a national award for Lifeguard, writes TAMZIN LEWIS
A MOCKUMENTARY about a fraudulent lifeguard will be given a special award at the prestigious Co-operative Film Festival.
Lifeguard, filmed in Seahouses, is the comic story of the hero Bernard Strong, who appears to have won a Lifeguard of the Year award, before being exposed by Lifeguard TV International.
It is one of three films made by teenagers from the Tyneside Cinema’s Northern Stars Film Academy which will be screened at the National Media Museum in Bradford today and tomorrow.
The festival for young people is in its 45th year and new for 2011 are the Advisors’ Choice awards.
Lifeguard is among the nine films recognised for an award, as particularly strong entries for other young filmmakers to aspire towards.
Between five and six minutes long, Lifeguard, Battered – about a serial killer in a fish shop – and zombie movie Monkey’s Blood were all filmed on location at Seahouses.
Professional film-maker Ian Fenton says: “The Co-operative Film Festival is a big deal so this recognition is great.
“The film-makers write the scripts before they go, then they work with professional mentors to produce their film.