Best animation - Manchester

YOUNG PEOPLE FROM MANCHESTER WIN MINI OSCAR®

Young people from Manchester scooped a top film award at the star-studded First Light Movies Awards ceremony in London.

Young filmmakers working with Cornerhouse Arts Centre in Manchester, triumphed in the Best Animation category for their short digital animated film Every Street Dreams.

They picked up the prize at a glittering awards ceremony at Leicester Square which was attended by film and television stars including Imelda Staunton, Sean Bean and Alex Zane.

Every Street Dreams, made by a group of 14 to 18-year-olds, documents the dreams experienced by residents of one Manchester streets using several types of animation.

Judges praised the mini-movie for its animation techniques and original concept.

The young people received their awards from Hollywood actor and star of The Lord of the Rings, Sean Bean.

This year's First Light Film Awards were attended by more than 200 young people as well as celebrities and film industry executives. The awards have been dubbed Britain's own Mini Oscars®.

First Light Movies provides funding and expertise for five to 18-year-olds throughout the UK to make films using National Lottery money through UK Film Council funding.

The ceremony, held at the Odeon West End in the heart of London, featured a specially-recorded message of support from 007 Daniel Craig who sent his best wishes via videolink from Los Angeles.

First Light Movies Chief Executive Pip Eldridge said: "We are so incredibly proud of the young people’s achievements and the excellent film they've produced.

Now in its fifth year, the First Light Movies Awards keep going from strength-to-strength.

The terrific atmosphere of today's ceremony alongside such wonderful support from celebrities and members of the film industry is testament to the hard work, imagination and creativity of all the young filmmakers."

First Light Movies celebrated the achievements of this year's young filmmakers at a reception held at 11 Downing Street on the eve of the ceremony with Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown MP.

At the reception Gordon Brown praised First Light Movies saying: "First Light Movies is a great organisation and this a great week for film in Great Britain because of the Oscar success of The Queen and The Last King of Scotland."

"First Light Movies is a hugely successful organisation that has enabled thousands of young people to make films."

"These films are full of energy, creativity and talent in so many different areas and I'm sure the First Light Movies Awards winners will be Oscar winners at some point in the future - all down to the hard work of this organisation."

UK Film Council Chief Executive Officer John Woodward said: "First Light Movies gives children and young people a unique opportunity to channel their creativity into making films.

"The UK Film Council is delighted to support this project and the benefits that First Light Movies has brought to thousands of youngsters, from all backgrounds, across the UK."