Media centre

Wednesday 14 Sep 2011

BUDDING FILMMAKERS SCOOP SPECIAL PRIZE AT SWINDON COLLEGE AWARDS

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Aspiring filmmakers from Swindon College had their work recognised at a special awards ceremony held at the college last night celebrating a new partnership with the rail industry.

The budding directors were on a unique course funded by Network Rail and First Great Western which encouraged the college’s film students to create short films depicting rail travel in their local area. The college and its students will also benefit from a £1000 bursary fund to help support the film department and kit it out with new equipment.

Samantha Allen and Serifina Kami scooped the top prize for their creative short film, Nice Day Out.

In second place were Bradley Pierce, Kyle Horwood, Mel Stevenson, Danielle Moore, Luke Newton and Jon Gilchrist for their fun and inspirational work, On A Journey.

Darrel Clarke, Kyle Forty, Chris Higgins, Stephen Tighe, Dan Marcadet and Merlin Cobb won third place for their interpretations of what rail travel means to their local area, You Can't Beat The Trains.

The students worked in groups, each producing a film no longer than three minutes. Judged by a panel of representatives from Network Rail and First Great Western, the imaginative short films were ranked in first, second and third places. The winners were awarded their prize by Mike Gallop, Network Rail programme sponsor.

Winners Samantha and Serifina said: “We cannot believe that we have come first, all of the films were really different and they were all very impressive. The awards ceremony was amazing, I almost felt famous walking to the stage to receive my prize. Thank you Network Rail and First Great Western!”

Paul Moss, film and video editing techniques tutor at Swindon College, said: “The students have been great and have handled this task really well. Network Rail and First Great Western have really helped out the media department with their generous bursary and we are all very grateful.”

Network Rail’s Mike Gallop commented: “We feel that Nice Day Out really captured the essence of what rail travel means to Swindon. Samantha and Serifina put a lot of thought into the filming process and came up with a great piece that is imaginative, creative and informative. We were so pleased to be able to work with the students on the film and video editing techniques course. They have all done a great job.”

Following the individual awards, Mike Gallop presented Swindon College principal Andrew Miller with a cheque for £1000.

To view the films that were created by the Film and Video editing techniques students then please visit www.networkrail.co.uk/thegreatwestern.