A PUPIL from a school for autistic children and young people in South Derbyshire has won a national film-making competition.
Owain Coomber, who attends Bladon House School, in Newton Solney, scooped first place in a film storyboard competition run by ChildLine.
The 13-year-old fought off competition from more than 600 youngsters, aged seven to 16, to emerge as the winner of the Create and Make Film Competition, which was run in conjunction with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
Entrants were asked to draw and describe a storyboard for a short film on the theme of helping a friend.
ChildLine director Peter Liver said: “It was a real pleasure to present Owain with his award.
“He created a fantastic storyboard which told the story of an old man who is struggling to tend to his allotment and a young boy who makes amends for breaking a window by helping him to complete the work, much to the old man’s delight. Seeing the finished animation was amazing and we wish Owain all the best in his career as a budding film-maker.”
Owain received his winner’s trophy at a special screening of his animation film, Losing the Plot, as well as a cinema pass and video camera at the Brewhouse, in Union Street, Burton.
He and his classmates were also shown a behind-the-scenes film of how the animation was made, and took part in a question and answer session about animation.
A spokesman for BAFTA said: “We are always keen to support initiatives that allow young people the opportunity to express themselves creatively, and we felt the theme of helping a friend would provide great scope for entrants to tackle difficult subjects.
“Owain’s entry particularly impressed the judges with its originality, sensitivity and charm – he certainly is a talent to watch.”
To view the film, visit http://ow.ly/ijXtY
