EIFF is delighted to be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Edinburgh and Lothians Schools Film Competition. This long-running project helps local young people engage with film and the filmmaking process and celebrate their success with public screenings of their work at EIFF. The competition is a collaboration between EIFF, Arts & Creative Learning at City of Edinburgh Council and Screen Education Edinburgh.

Pupils from nurseries, primary, secondary and special schools in Edinburgh and the Lothians were invited to submit their short films to EIFF’s annual competition with a Youth Jury selecting the most accomplished, interesting and amusing which were screened as part of the Festival today. Two awards were given out in a number of categories: one for primary and one for secondary schools, ranging from a Creativity Award and Best Original Idea to Best acting, Best trailer and of course, Best Film.

There were 6 categories in the primary school screening: 

•    Best Animation – Won by How to Master Life by Pencaitland Primary School
•    Best Acting – Won by The Witch by St. Catherine¹s R C Primary School
•    Group Effort Award – Won by Think Tank by Leith Primary School 
•    Creativity Award – Won by Flash Facts by Blackhall Primary School
•    Best Film – Won by Spies by St. Catherine¹s R C Primary School 
•    The Jury Selection Award 2018 – Won by Newsround Special by Pencaitland Primary School

There were 5 categories in the secondary school screening: 

•    Best Trailer – Won by No by Penicuik High School 
•    Technical Achievement Award in Camera and Editing – Won by Flipside by Firrhill High School 
•    Best Film – Won by Danny by Penicuik High School 
•    The Jury Selection Award 2018 – Won by The Black Lunch Bag by Penicuik High School 
•    Best Original Idea – Won by Freeze by Penicuik High School 

Panto bad boy and host of BBC Radio Scotland’s Afternoon Show, Grant Stott, presented the prize for Best Film made by a Secondary School at the event.

Grant said: “I am delighted to be supporting this competition on its 10th birthday.  I loved watching the short-listed films and congratulating the winning filmmakers on their success.”

Lorna MacDonald heads the Creative Learning department at City of Edinburgh Council and is a key partner and avid supporter of the annual competition. Lorna said: “As an art form, film is a growing genre locally and internationally. We all have our favourite movies and it is crucial that our young people become skilled in visual literacy, how to interpret and make, as well as enjoy, film.  

The Edinburgh and Lothians Schools’ Film Competition is an ideal opportunity for pupils and teachers to engage with the creative process and capture children’s thoughts and ideas to convey to others via film. Every year at the screening of shortlisted films, we are blown away by the variety of content, ideas, innovation, and teamwork that goes into making even a short film. These skills will take our pupils forward in all areas of life as well as their films bringing the audiences much pleasure.” Lorna Macdonald, Creative Learning, Communities & Families, City of Edinburgh Council

Ken Hay, CEO of the Edinburgh International Festival hosted the event at Filmhouse and gave the opening address and said: “EIFF is delighted to be working with Screen Education Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh Council and of course all the schools, teachers and pupils from across Edinburgh and the Lothians in delivering the 10th anniversary of the Edinburgh and Lothians Schools Film Competition.  It is truly inspiring to see the next generation of filmmakers and audiences coming together to celebrate the originality and creativity of so many young people.” Ken Hay, Chief Executive of EIFF

The public can watch the award winners for free on:

Sat 30 June 13:20 Filmhouse 2 - Primary [U] 60 min
Sun 1 July 13:20 Filmhouse 2 - Secondary [PG] 60 min

They can book their free ticket online via this site.