Young Film Critic of the Year is an annual competition run by Film Education. Entry is open to any student in the UK aged 4-19yrs. The majority of entries are submitted by teachers who have use the competition as a curriculum-linked learning activity.

Thousands of entries are received every year across all 8 categories. These are short-listed by a small team of teachers and film journalists who have been involved in previous Young Film Critic of the Year competitions. The final shortlist is then sent to a combination of national and regional film critics who choose the final nominees and winners.

The 2009 panel include: Quentin Falk, Film Critic, Andy Dougan, Film Lecturer & Freelance Critic, Anwar Brett, Writer & Film Critic and Kevin Bourke, Writer & Broadcaster

The winners are announced during a gala ceremony at BAFTA on the launch day of National Schools Film Week in October. Last year’s event was hosted by the BBC Blue Peter presenter Joel Defries.

Find out more at filmeducation.org

Hammad Raza was the winner of the 7-11 Category and Hannah Pusey won the 11-14 Category and we asked them what they thought of 2 of our nominated films…

Mary and the Miners

Mary and the Miners is a tribute paid by the children of the present to the children of the past. This remarkable two minutes film shows the view points and thoughts of child miners in the Welsh coal mines in 1841. Children talked about their families and their dreary work in the dark and dirty mines. The biggest events in their young lives were terrible accidents. A little girl was run over by a pit pony and a heavy coal barrow. Another child was involved in a mining explosion and consequently was badly burned. They were forced to work long hours and share their little food with rats. Sadness was the tone of the film though you came out with a feeling of being lucky for not living in that era. The whole film took place underground and the dark background shades set a gloomy mood. The sound effects were realistic creating a spooky and eerie atmosphere. The singing of the children of class 6 sounded like the echoes of children from the past and brought a tear to my eye. The simple and extremely effective animation and the details given to the facial expressions brought the characters to life and reminded me of my favourite animation Wallace and Gromit. This kind of children’s work should not only be encouraged but celebrated because it keeps the past alive. Well done class 6 of Cantref Primary School, I am sure you all are very proud of your superb work on this touching film.

Reviewed by: Hammad Raza of Birkdale School Sheffield

Broken Circle

‘“I think he did it.”’

Five friends sit in comfortable silence, sunlight pouring in onto their relaxed faces. A sixth boy enters and joins the circle, making it complete.

Five friends sit in awkward silence, a weak glow of light distinguishing the glances of mistrust and accusation they throw at one another. A ray of light illuminates the remaining empty chair; a broken circle.

The film opens and our curiosity is immediately aroused as the camera pans backwards at seating level to reveal an empty circle of chairs. One, at the centre, is dusty, black and in stark contrast to the others. The dust floating silently and haunting music gives a real sense of foreboding and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I felt a sense of impending doom. The covered furniture forced illusions into my mind, but the anguished face of one young boy on my screen brought me back to reality.

The simplicity of the film made me feel vulnerable and agitated, and an air of conspiracy and confusion remained in my mind long after the movie was over. The effective use of lighting, from cold and bleak to warm and welcoming, gives the film an edge, as does the sound: the near-psychedelic whispering and lack of vocalization throughout the whole film builds the tense and uneasy atmosphere, so that the occasional offer of real human emotion brings the film to life. The awkward silence between the friends intensifies all other noise, until the final burst of feeling at the end of the film, which could be rage, envy, or despair.

‘Broken Circle’ is a gripping, moving drama, and the powerful way in which it affirms a certain stereotype of gang culture also brings out a wave of teenage angst, grief and fear. The depiction of the difficult struggle for power and control and adolescent striving put me in mind of ‘Lord of the Flies’, but in a less openly brutal fashion. The beautifully expressionless faces of five youngsters who find themselves stepping out of innocent normality with reverence, revulsion and reluctance are highlighted by magnificent cinematography; the various camera shots herald the emotions and actions of the children that make the film so human.

We are led on a journey of discovery that makes us suspicious, but be warned- don’t jump to conclusions too soon, or you’ll never find the true answer to the fundamental question…who really broke the circle?

Reviewed by Hannah Pusey