Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
22/07/2010

Inspire Win For Portsmouth Students

News Image
A documentary film about the decline of Portsmouth as a traditional seaside resort has won first prize for three student film-makers who graduate this week.
The University of Portsmouth students won the award for best documentary at the Inspire Film Festival for their graduate film titled The Last Resort which received critical acclaim from the judging panel including legendary film critic, Barry Norman. The film explores the decline of the Southsea as a traditional seaside resort told from the perspective of an elderly sea-swimmers group, a sea-front cafe manager and the owner of a model village.
The 16 minute film made by Russell Oastler, David Kinnaird and Lucas Way has since been picked up by the Sunday Times Short Film Community, an online showcase for the work of new film-makers which goes live in August.
Russell, 28, who directed the film, was born and bred in Portsmouth and said he selected the location and the characters after taking photographs of the sea-front and noting how much it had changed since he enjoyed happy times there as a child with his family.
He said: "I remembered my childhood in Southsea as the golden age of the bucket and spade but when I saw it again with fresh eyes everything looked rather tired. I decided to make a film which explored the decline through the eyes of some of the locals who have seen it change over the years."
The film explores the declining fortunes of The Big Wheel Cafe at Clarence Pier and Southsea's model village, run by Mike Armet, who owns the attraction on Southsea Esplanade.
The film also introduces a group of Southsea die-hard swimmers who take a dip in the Solent's chilly water 365 days a year. Some have been swimming there for over 30 years and even swim on Christmas Day. Sadly one of their group, 86-year-old Dorothy Browning, passed away during the making of the documentary and the film has been dedicated to her memory.
Russell, who has just returned from work-experience on a professional short film, said it was never his plan to be a documentary film-maker but he enjoys the unplanned nature of the medium.
"I like the idea that you don't really know what might happen in a documentary - it could be something totally unexpected," he said.
The students' tutor, Ben Thompson from Creative Technologies, said that the film has a great deal of substance and showed level of maturity which deserved to the recognition.
He said: "A documentary director needs the ability to get the most from the people taking part in the film - it's a special skill which you just can't teach, it's intuitive. It's a superb film and all three have what it takes for a career in film-making."
The three students, who collected their award this week, graduate from their course in BA Hons Television and Film Production this week when they will also receive the Creative Technologies departmental prize for Best Short Documentary.
David Kinnaird also collects the prize for Best Digital Cinematography for which he receives a digital video camera from a representative from industry specialists, JVC, who sponsored the award.
The film can be seen at: http://vimeo.com/12377469
(BMcN/KMcA)
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

31/10/2006
German Film Wins At European Film Academy Documentary 2006
The European Film Academy has proudly announced that the award European Film Academy Documentary 2006 - Prix Arte goes to the film Die Grosse Stille (
20/03/2007
London Celebrates Local Film-making Talent
ITV Local London, ITV’s regional broadband TV service in the London area, is entering into a partnership with Film London, in order to raise the profi
04/08/2006
Skills schemes set to boost new talent in London more investment in training and development
Film London today announced the launch of two new rounds of funding schemes to develop the capital’s film, TV and animation professionals and support
07/12/2012
UK's Future Film Industry Boost
The BFI today announces the 24 regional partners that will help deliver its pioneering BFI Film Academy Network programme in 2012/13. The BFI Film Aca
23/10/2008
Mayor Of London Pledges His Support For Film In The Capital
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has held his first meeting with prominent figures from the film, television and production industries. The film summit h
04/12/2023
Germaine Franco Mixes Film Favourites
GRAMMY® Award-winning and Oscar-nominated Composer and Music Producer Germaine Franco credits her lifelong success to her early immersion in Latin mus
12/03/2015
Celebrating The Durability Of Film...
Cinelab London is one of the most comprehensive and accomplished film labs in the UK. Supporting clients who acquire or distribute on film, the compan
29/01/2008
'Man On Wire' Strikes It Lucky Twice At Sundance
Man on Wire, a feature documentary film by British filmmaker James Marsh and supported by the Lottery through the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund ha
17/11/2009
Film Council 'To Steer Film Through Recession'
The UK Film Council has launched a three-month public consultation into the most significant revision of its activities since it was created in 2000.
12/02/2024
Catalyst International Film Festival Announces Short Documentary Award
Catalyst International Film Festival is delighted to announce the Short Documentary Award, 2024. The award is open to emerging filmmakers. The success
23/04/2004
Film London unveil blueprint to boost film-friendly Capital
London’s new film and media agency, Film London, has unveiled a variety of measures aimed at making the Capital more film-friendly. BAFTA winning acto
01/06/2010
Irish Film Projects For US Festival
Four Irish projects have been officially selected to screen at the AFI/Silver Docs Film Festival which takes place in Maryland, US from 21st-27th June
30/03/2011
Mayor Confirms Funding For Film London
Film London has announced that the Mayor of London will continue to invest in the agency. This commitment of funding ensures the UK capital has a dedi
31/07/2015
Production News : Former Military Officers Film British Volunteers For 'Fighting ISIS' Documentary
Channel 4 is to broadcast an extraordinary film, shot entirely by three former military officers which follows British men who have volunteered to fig
28/09/2010
Documentary Film Makers Get Galway Focus
Documentary filmmaking is being highlighted at the forthcoming Galway Film Centre and MEDIA Antenna event. It is being held in association with Galway