The IF Film Competition “Young, Gifted and Broke” (in association with the Guardian and the National Union of Students), received so many high-quality films that the judges, who included Christopher Hird and Dominic Minghella, decided to award seven of them the honour of being “Highly Commended”.
The Guardian will be posting these Highly Commended films one by one over the coming days. Follow this link to view them.
The Highly Commended films are:
Documentary Category
Lauren Nicholas: “Life After University”
Drama Category
Ciarra Nevitt: “Young, Talented and Broke”
16-18s Category
Cody Mackenzie: “Words of Wisdom”
Amber Curtis “Getting it Right”
About the filmmakers
Jasper Kain: “Shape Up”
(Documentary Category)
When submitting the film, Jasper Kain wrote: “I am 25 years old, in debt and have to share a room. I decided to film other young people in Hackney who also feel trapped by their lack of prospects. The mood is sombre and the future uncertain as they cry out for people with authority to see the world through their eyes.”
Lauren Nicholas: “Life After University”
(Documentary Category)
When submitting the film, Lauren Nicholas wrote: “I am a first class honours illustration graduate struggling to find work after university. This animation tells my story, as well as that of a couple of friends in the same situation.”
Ciarra Nevitt: “Young, Talented and Broke”
(Drama Category)
The Guardian writes: “Young, Talented and Broke is Ciarra Nevitt’s highly commended film in the Intergenerational Foundation young film-makers’ short film competition in association with the Guardian and the National Union of Students. It explores through the voice of one young women the numerous struggles facing young people.” The film stars Ciarra Nevitt and was directed by Jamal Woon, with music by Celeste Deveazey.
Makeda Mantock: “Debt Slaves”
with Havana Wellings-Longmore (Drama Category)
Profiles submitted on request:
“Makeda Mantock is a talented emerging filmmaker who has a passion for directing and editing stories, which will challenge audiences. Makeda was drawn to filmmaking from an early age and plans to break the glass ceiling and prejudices, which prevent ethnic women from making and sharing films worldwide.
“Havana Wellings-Longmore is a talented theatre producer, writer and poet. Havana is inspired by her multi-cultural heritage to explore identity and women’s rights through film and politically motivated poetry.
“Collaborating together Makeda and Havana, both from London, want to produce films such as Debt Slaves. They want to share the stories and images of those marginalised by mainstream society. By giving a voice to the British underdog, we encourage the world to better understand and appreciate the rich diversity found within modern UK life.”
Yomi Sontan: “Envision”
(16-18s Category)
When submitting the film, Yomi Sontan wrote: “I am a 17-year-old college student, studying Biology, Maths, Psychology and Sports Science. My interest in Media and Drama inspired me to attempt to create a video about youth unemployment – one of the most talked-about subjects in the social circles of teenagers. I wanted to show what happens 80% of the time.”
Cody Mackenzie: “Words of Wisdom”
(16-18s Category)
When submitting the film, Cody Mackenzie wrote: “The reality of living in a routine, each day going past in black and white. For a girl who has noticed life, the only task is to keep your chin up. Forget the routine and turn black and white to colour.”
Amber Curtis “Getting it Right”
(16-18s Category)
Amber Curtis has written: “I’m a student at college studying media production and, like all young people my age, I’m trying to work out what I want to do with my life, whether I should move out, go to university or get a job. I’m constantly getting advice from family and friends telling me their experiences and how it could help me.
“This is when I realised that all three generations of my family – my granddad, dad and sister – all left home during a recession and under a Conservative government. I wanted to talk to them and see what their opinions were, having the same situation repeat 30 years between my granddad and my dad and from my dad to my sister.”