Aspiring young filmmakers from Sheffield held their own version of the Cannes Film Festival last night at Sheffield Hallam University, where they screened their short films, all of which were made in a foreign language.
Pupils from nine local schools attended the screening to watch the two-minute films they had made in French, German and Spanish. The films were produced to give pupils the opportunity to put their language skills into practice and highlight the benefits of learning another language.
A judging panel of Maria Scheule from the languages subject area at Sheffield Business School, Ron Wright from Sheffield Hallam and Janine Turner at the Goethe Institut Manchester awarded prizes to the top three films as well as individual prizes of HD cameras to Isla Tyrrell from King Edward VII and Jasmin Gittins from Oakwood School for their outstanding contribution. Jasmin Gittins, along with Emily McNulty and Hayley Rogers were also awarded first prize for their film ‘ Quest for a Cuppa’ Also in joint first place was ‘ Leider bin ich hier fremd by Sam, John, Chris, Grace and Lucy and in second place was French film ‘Frittish’ by Hannah Campbell, Hannah Betts, Emily Fleming and Fraser Campbell.
In July, the Schools and Colleges Liaison Office at Sheffield Hallam hosted a three-day languages film summer school for students of French, German and Spanish.
Forty-three pupils from King Edward VII, Brinsworth Comprehensive, Stocksbridge High, Notre Dame, Meadowhead, Hayfield, Oakwood, Wales and Silverdale schools took part in interactive workshops on storyboarding, script writing and language grammar. Sessions were delivered by university staff, school teachers and local film maker, Nick Shaw, who shared his film making expertise.
Pupils then filmed around the University to produce their two-minute films which will be submitted to the national Languages and Film Talent Awards competition in 2011.
Matthew Hunt, from the Sheffield Business School at Sheffield Hallam, said: "Making a film in a second language is a creative and fun activity which will serve the students well for language study, where the ability to manipulate language and discuss more intellectual ideas is really important."
Elaine Pawling, head of languages at King Edward VII school said: “Film is an ideal tool to help with language learning. Studying film not only allows students to become aware of the local cultural identity of a country, but also more aware as global citizens."
The summer school was a joint venture organised by Sheffield Business School and the Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Sciences at Sheffield Hallam University with King Edward VII School, Brinsworth Comprehensive School in partnership with Routes into Languages.
For press information: contact Tess Humphrys in the University’s press office on 0114 225 4025 or email pressoffice@shu.ac.uk
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