Teenagers delighted by film award win (From Swindon Advertiser)

Teenagers delighted by film award win

1:10pm Thursday 19th March 2009

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ACTRESS Sienna Miller and Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs presented Swindon teenagers with a coveted film award.

Ten teenagers from the town’s Your Film group were at a glittering awards ceremony in London mixing with the likes of Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle.

Their movie Rite of Passage about a teenage girl being initiated into a sinister cult won best thriller at the Activision First Light Movies award.

Swindon film maker Keith Phillips, of Ideal Films, supported the project from the beginning.

He said: “We were very surprised to win, as the other nominated films were brilliant.

“The young people were very impressed with Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy. He had a good chat with them.

“He had watched the film that morning and was kind enough to say it was chilling and scary. The young people had such a good day and were excited and delighted.”

Bond actor Daniel Craig was one of four actors who judged the Swindon teenagers’ film.

Rite of Passage was filmed in the dead of the night and was all their own work.

Sherylee Houssein, 18, of Stratton St Margaret, who took part in the Your Film project is now running it.

She said: “The awards ceremony was really amazing. At first we were nervous as we thought we had no chance.

“There was a party afterwards, which was great. It was also nice for all the members of Your Film to meet up again as most have gone off to university since we made Rite of Passage.

“This proves to us that we can make films and gives us a big confidence boost.”

Director Danny Boyle spoke encouraging words to young people at the ceremony.

He said: “They don’t really need a lot of advice. They just need to keep going.

“Hollywood seems like a long way away – it’s not. It's always about persistence. Keep going.”

Your Film are not new to success - the group won best thriller with Icehouse at the competition in 2006.

Shahina Johnson, of Create Studios, which runs media courses, added: “We are delighted that Your Film has won another award. I am excited that there is such a fantastic film making movement among young people in Swindon.”

Members of Your Film are already reaping the benefits of their success. One member used Rite of Passage as part of a portfolio in applying for a degree and another member has progressed to studying dance and theatre.

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