Harry Potter star opens Co-operative Young Film-Makers Festival
16/10/2009 – youngsters were treated to a magical zap of inspiration
This year’s Co-operative Young Film-Makers Festival was opened by Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis. Matthew, who plays student wizard Neville Longbottom in the hugely successful film series offered advice to the nations future film-makers in a question and answer session at the festival, as well as making time to sign autographs.
More than 100 short films made by youngsters, aged 19 and under were screened at the two day festival, held at Bradford’s award-winning National Media Museum last week. Selected by an experienced panel of film buffs and critics from over 300 entrants, the standard this year was widely acknowledged by the panel as being the highest ever.
Through drama and documentary, animation and comedy, music video and silent movie, film-makers tackled issues that concerned them, such as climate change, knife crime, bullying and healthy living. In line with the festival aim, to help young people express themselves, entrants also made films that told viewers of their 
own lives, communities and experiences.
Not only do film-makers get to see their work on the big screen at this major national venue but they can also take part in exciting events and master classes hosted by film experts, and receive feedback on their film.
National Project Officer, Debbie Kendal said: “The quality and imagination that the entrants have showed this year is amazing. One of the main aims of the festival is to encourage young people to work together as a team and it's great to see the thrill they get when they see their film on the big screen.”
Tutor at Oldham college, Graham Wolstenholme, whose students put together a fantastic short drama about a girl sucked in to gang life and knife crime, added: “Producing a short film is no small feat – it takes great discipline to work together and produce something as professional as 'Beth's story' so I'm really proud of every student that was involved.”
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