Screen test of young movie makers

Zoom Cymru introduces youngsters to film and TV production

Young people are being invited to show their movie skills for a festival in the south Wales valleys.

The Zoom Young Filmmaker Award is being staged as part of the Wales International Young People's Film Festival - Zoom '10.

Organisers are looking for films made by youngsters aged between eight and 25 with 11 awards up for contention.

The successful films will be revealed at Pontypridd's Muni Arts Centre during the festival in March 2010.

Zoom director Lisa Davies said: "There are no strict rules about what your film should be like - what we're looking for is originality and creativity.

"All we're asking for is that the majority of your film's crew, including the Director, and those who appear on screen are aged from eight to 25.

Archive: Young people shared their views on what they would film for Zoom TV in 2008

"The best films will have an interesting story or subject matter, filmed and cut to the best possible standard within their time and budget constraints.

"So if you have a good story you want to tell everyone and think you could tell it in an original way, send it to us and you may well be seeing your work on the big screen," she added.

Films can be fiction, animation, music video or documentary, and should be no longer than ten minutes.

Nine of the eleven awards will be decided by a panel of industry professionals along with children who sit on the Zoom Film Council, while the Zoom Audience Award will be voted by people attending the festival.

Based at Treharris near Merthyr Tydfil, Zoom is a film and media development programme working with young people across the south Wales valleys.

As well as the annual film festival, the organisation has also run an online channel called Zoom TV in the summer holidays.

For further details of how to enter contact Zoom Head Office by emailing [e-mail] or calling 01443 413622.

The deadline for entries is 15 January 2010.