YOUNG VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY FILM-MAKERS SHOWCASED

More than 50 young voulunteers from across England who have made films to raise awareness and campaign about important community and social issues were honoured at the BOOM! Awards which took place at the Apple Store, Regent Street, in London on 22nd October.

The BOOM! project challenges young people aged 16-25 to connect with and benefit their communities by learning and putting into practice film-making and creative media skills through their local youth club.

BOOM! is a partnership project involving Clubs for Young People, volunteering charity 'v', MTV and youth engagement agency TomTom nation. All the youth clubs taking part have been given iMacs and use iMovie '09 film editing software, which is part of the iLife suite of software that comes as standard on a Mac.



According to Becky Hedgcock, BOOM! Manager at Clubs for Young People: "It's about encouraging young people to make a positive difference in their communities and to learn new skills in the process. We want young people to make films about things they want to change, improve, raise awareness about or simply have a say on."

The project was launched in March 2008 and more than 1,000 youth clubs are now taking part. Over 2,000 volunteer youth club leaders have also been professionally trained to run BOOM! activities in their clubs.

The film-makers recognised at this evening's BOOM! Awards event included the 'The Club' from Hartland in Devon who won Best Film for their film 'Girl Meets Guy On Meebo' on the potential dangers of meeting strangers via the internet. The full list of award-winners is as follows:

• Best Original Idea: Tyneside Youth Action Team from Shiremoor, Tyne & Wear, for 'The Tramp In Me'
• Best Camerawork: Sweat Dreamz & Soft Touch from Leicester for 'Street Dreamz The Movie'
• Best Front-Of-Camera Performance: Electron Bosompem from Leading Our Lives in South East London for 'The Last Chapter'
• Best Editing: Eye Arts Club from Hoxne, Suffolk, for 'The Wishing Mill'
• Best Soundtrack: Freya Films from Hastings, Sussex, for 'MC Tarqinius - Just Cos My Daddy's Rich'
• Best Direction: Harry Smith from The Club in Hartland, Devon, for 'Girl Meets Guy On Meebo'
• Best Community Story: The Stonehouse Gang from Birmingham for 'Does It Matter'
• Outstanding Club Leader: Eva Savickate from Tyneside Youth Action Team in Shiremoor, Tyne & Wear
• Outstanding Volunteering: Amar Sejpal from Pro-Action Herts in Hatfield, Hertfordshire
• Soldier's Eyes Award: Rhys Williams from Bromley Film in Kent and Thom Allen from Atlanta Film in London
• Best Film: The Club from Hartland, Devon, for 'Girl Meets Guy On Meebo'

The Awards event was jointly hosted by Konnie Huq, the well-known TV presenter and media personality, and Nick Ede, the highly regarded expert and media commentator on celebrity, fashion and lifestyle. The event also featured a guest appearance by singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti to present a special BOOM! Award for the Soldier's Eyes competition, run in conjunction with BOOM!, which challenged young people to make a music video with a social message for Jack's song Soldier's Eyes.

For more information go to www.boomnation.net