North Tyneside filmmakers capture national award
Sep 6 2010 by Amy Hunt, The Journal
YOUNG filmmakers from the North East are celebrating after being crowned winners at a prestigious national awards ceremony.
The Beacon Hill Film Project won the Best Arts Project prize at the National Lottery Awards, which were shown on BBC1 on Saturday evening.
The project, involving pupils from Beacon Hill Business and Enterprise College in North Tyneside, allows young people with learning disabilities to make their own films from script to screen.
Stepney Bank Stables in Newcastle and the Great North Museum: Hancock were both runners up in categories at the awards, which aim to recognise the best Lottery-funded projects in the country.
The winners, who were whittled down from hundreds of entries from around the country, were chosen by public votes and won £2,000 to spend on their projects.
Representatives from all the shortlisted projects were invited to a ceremony at the Roundhouse in London, hosted by TV star John Barrowman and featuring pop performances from McFly and Taio Cruz.
Will Sadler, owner of Arpeggio Films and manager of the Beacon Hill Film Project, who accepted the award from actor Benedict Cumberbatch, along with student Luke Zuccaroli, said: “We’re still amazed by it, we can’t believe it. We were up against such high-quality opponents who’ve produced such amazing work that to win against such stiff competition is brilliant.
“It is an absolute honour to have won this award and for all the young people involved in the project to receive national recognition for their hard work and dedication. The fact that it was a public vote makes it even better.”
Luke, 18, said: “I am ecstatic that we won and very proud to win this after everyone’s hard work.”
Connor Rathbone, 18, said: “We jumped up and down when we won, my mam was very excited as well.” Stephanie Nicholas, 18, said: “Thank you everyone for your support.”
The Beacon Hill group’s latest films, The Pirate And The Mermaid and The Middle Of Nowhere, have already won accolades, awards and prestigious screenings.
The Pirate And The Mermaid won the National Young Filmmakers Award and a First Light Award for Best Original Music, while the Middle Of Nowhere was short-listed in the Best Emerging Talent category at Fresh Flix, the young people’s section of short film festival Encounters.
Stepney Bank Stables, based in Ouseburn, Newcastle, offers under-privileged and disabled children the chance to ride and look after horses. It was shortlisted for Best Education Project.
The Great North Museum: Hancock, which was awarded £8.75m of Lottery money to put towards a three-year, £26m revamp of its Victorian building, was in the running for Best Heritage Project.
Steve McLean, senior manager of the Great North Museum: Hancock, said: “To even be included in such a competition is a great honour, and to be shortlisted even more so. I am part of a tremendously dedicated team, and we have had a fantastic journey so far, and it’s only the beginning.
“None of this would have been possible if it was not for the funding we received from the Heritage Lottery Fund.”
Professor Eric Cross, dean of cultural affairs at Newcastle University, which led the partnership responsible for the development of the Great North Museum, said: “To be recognised nationally in a competition such as this makes it clear that the public want cultural destinations of quality that celebrate our rich heritage.
“We have a fantastic team of partners and staff who are dedicated and passionate about what they do, and the fact that we got this far is a credit to them.”
