Film-makers from Towcester, Daventry and Northampton were recognised for their talent at the fifth Film Northants short film festival
A full house of more than 200 film-makers, supporters and local dignitaries attended the event at Cineworld, which saw five films made in the county pick up awards.
Supernatural drama No Second Chances by Barry Smith won the Public Vote award and black and white animation Disparu by Ashley Williams picked up the Judges’ Choice award, decided by a panel of industry experts.
The winner of the Rotary Club of Northampton Under 16s category was alien comedy Accidentally in Daventry made by Dale Harrington-Carter and Graham Gardiner-Jones.
Ashley Williams also scooped the Film Northants Anniversary Award for best use of the theme of ‘five’ in a film.
Second place in the public vote went to horror Some Sunny Day by James Millar, Phil Chapman and Viv Sharma, and second place in the Under 16s category was awarded to the environmental short Save the Rainforest by McKenzie Halliday Edge.
Mr Smith said: “I would say to anyone thinking they might like to do what we have, you won’t know until you give it a try. It’s so easy to get involved as long as you have a decent story. To see your film up on the big screen in a cinema is just amazing and well worth the effort.”
Mr Millar, whose team are past entrants, said: “We owe quite a lot to this competition because it showed us how to work together and gave us a deadline to get it done.
“This year there was more competition than ever before and the general quality got higher again. I hope this encourages people to have a go themselves because anyone can these days. As long as you think you have a strong storyline, you can even just film it on an iPhone.”
Mr Williams said: “I didn’t expect it. This is the third year I have entered and first time I have won anything. Film Northants gives everyone a chance to make films.”
David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: “I thought it was brilliant. It shows what great talent there is in Northamptonshire. I really like the concept of the film festival. I was amazed how creative all the filmmakers were.”
The red carpet event screened twelve shortlisted over 16 and under 16 films, which were all shot in the county, together with a specially-commissioned anniversary documentary about the making of the Northampton Bomberdrome – a bicycle wall of death.
More details and photos of the ceremony will appear at: www.filmnorthants.co.uk or and the Facebook page ‘Film Northants’.