Customs House launches second short film awards for young filmmakers

It's lights, camera, action for young filmmakers as an awards scheme officially opens for business.
Filmmakers discuss their work at last years awards.Filmmakers discuss their work at last years awards.
Filmmakers discuss their work at last years awards.

The Customs House, in South Shields, has launched the Custom Reels Short Film Awards.

The awards are dedicated to showcasing young people’s filmmaking talent in the North East, and are in their second year.

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The categories for budding Steven Spielbergs or Meryl Streeps are Best Film, Best Direction, Best Performance and One to Watch.

The event will be held at the Customs House, in Mill Dam, on Thursday, June 2, as part of the venue’s Takeover Festival, and will see entries screened in the venue’s cinema.

Daniel Clifford, cultural development officer at the Customs House, runs the venue’s Custom Reels Film Club whicis behind the awards.

He said: “The awards are a great way to celebrate, encourage and promote the amazing talent we have in the region, and this year’s awards are already promising to be bigger and better than our inaugural awards last year.”

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Winner of last year’s Best Film category, George Gray said: “It was amazing to win the main prize last year. I went to the event with some friends and didn’t really expect to win anything. I was more excited about having my films shown in a cinema.”

George won £100 and a trophy for his short film Obscure Sorrows and has since been commissioned to complete several project for the Customs House.

He has also set up his own photography and videography company.

Work submitted must be from filmmakers or performers based in the region and films must not be longer than 10 minutes. For full submission guidance, go to www.customshouse.co.ukThe deadline for submissions is midnight on Friday, May 13.

Custom Reels is open to 13 to 19 year olds and meets every Thursday during term time.

For more information, email [email protected]