Hollywood came to Pembrokeshire this month for the fifth annual Pembrokeshire Schools Film and Animation Festival.
The glittering Oscars-style event showcased 40 films from 20 schools.
Once again school groups gathered on the red carpet at the Merlin Theatre in Haverfordwest for photographs and interviews with news teams before heading inside for a screening of their films and animations.
This year’s entries featured a wide range of films from spectacular stop frame sand animations to local history and comedies.
Organised by Pembrokeshire County Council’s education department, the annual festival aims to give pupils the opportunity to display their work to a wide audience, as well as view productions made by other students.
Film Festival director Duncan Whitehurst, said: “Every year we have seen the standard of films and animations improving.
“Schools are inspired to have a go at film and animation because it enables children to learn technical skills and apply creativity and imagination to subjects across the curriculum,” he said.
“Teachers have discovered that through film-making young people learn through experience and can develop confidence and practical team-working skills.
“Showcasing schools’ films at the end of the year is a way of celebrating the success of completing a project and gives children the opportunity to see each others’ work and share ideas.”
Each school received an award for entering their work as well as a written review of their film from the judging panel – Sharron Harris, Trinity College, Carmarthen; Greg David, Planet Sunday Animation and Chris Rees and Janice Jenkins from Pembrokeshire College.
The event was hosted by Alona Jones (ICT Advisor) and the awards were presented by Councillor Huw George, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.
The winners were:
Best Film or Animation Key Stage 1
Pennar Community School for “Wedi Mynd i Bysgota, Y Crocodeil Newynog a Caws yn y Gofod”
Best Film Key Stage 2
Sageston C.P. School for “The School Inspection” and Lamphey C.P. School for “Lamphey Ads”
Best Animation Key Stage 2
Manorbier V.C. School for “Food For Thought” and Templeton C.P. School for “Attack of the Recyclables”
Best Film or Animation Secondary
Ysgol Y Preseli with “The Tell Tale Heart” (by Danny Tose)
Best Newcomer
Pembroke School with “Bob The Blob” (by Liam Marshall)
The winners will now go forward to represent Pembrokeshire at the National Schools Film and Animation Awards in London.
Last year, four schools were shortlisted for the national awards with Sageston winning Best Key Stage 2 Film in the UK and Danny Tose from Ysgol Y Preseli winning Best Key Stage 3 Animation.
Photograph: Pupils from the winning schools
