This week on Tuesday 4 March, London’s famous ODEON Leicester Square was filled with talented young filmmakers and an audience of British film industry movers and shakers all celebrating the First Light Movies Awards 2008.

The dazzling ceremony, which has been dubbed the mini Oscars®, was hosted by the vivacious Big Brother presenter and TV personality Davina McCall. A whole host of celebrities were also on hand to present the actual awards including Sir Ian Mckellen, Kevin Spacey, BAFTA award winning director Shane Meadows, new Bond beauty Gemma Arterton and the Secretary of State for Media, Culture and Sport Andy Burnham MP.

Davina McCall said of the Awards: “The First Light Movies Awards are really important because it’s essential to nurture young creative talent. Britain is famous for it’s wealth of amazing filmmakers and this is something we need to continue to uphold and support. This work is of a very high standard so movie makers beware; there is some stiff competition just around the corner.”

All this year’s winners and nominees will see their work showcased in millions of homes via Virgin Media’s TV on Demand service. Select movies can also be accessed by anyone with a broadband connection at www.virginmedia.com/firstlightmovies.

Young winning First Light Movies filmmakers will also be given the opportunity to introduce and screen their films to more than 300,000 students across the UK during Film Education’s National Schools Week this October.

First Light Movies chief executive Pip Eldridge says: “Year after year I am astounded by the young people’s filmmaking talent and their astute ability to translate their own stories and experiences to the screen resulting in brilliant films that are thoroughly enjoyable to watch.

“Today’s celebration is dedicated to the young people’s hard work and commitment, many of whom have overcome adversities in their lives to produce their films. The atmosphere in the ODEON this afternoon was electric and it’s almost impossible to describe how excited the nominees were!

“The superb support we have received from celebrities, guests and members of the film industry is certainly a tribute to the young filmmakers’ talent, imagination and sheer enthusiasm for film.”

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Andy Burnham added: “The success of the British film industry is based upon us identifying the next generation of filmmakers. The great thing about these awards is that they give young people the confidence that they could make a film, and become the next Tim Burton, Paul Greengrass and Gurinder Chadha”

Sanday Community School, Sanday, Scotland

This charming claymation film follows the Orkney seal’s quest to switch off the lighthouse light. Interspersed with funny and tender moments this delightful film was made by a group of 11 to 14-year-olds.

Thomas Adams Media Arts, Wem, West Midlands

This hilarious film made by a group of 14 to 18-year-olds follows Brian as he suddenly finds that his clothes and his bed are too small for him as he goes through a mysterious growth spurt.

Mobile Media, Swindon, South West

This documentary charts a group of 11-year-olds as they prepare to make the journey from primary to secondary school.

Compulsive Community Pictures, Chichester, South East

This is a creepy drama about a guy whose horrific flashbacks become clear when a knife salesman comes to the door. Made by a group of 14 to 17-year-olds this film is not for the faint hearted!

The Nerve Centre, Derry, Northern Ireland

The posters for Hysteria suggest that a wicked new DJ set could breathe life into the town’s old nightclub, but when a group of 16 to 18-years-olds suffer fatally for their night out maybe it wasn’t such a good idea!

OpenZone City Learning Centre, South Shields, North East

Things get exciting when a school history project, to trace his family tree, leads a lad to follow the path of his ancestors on an adventure through time. Made by a group of 14 to 17-year-olds leaves no historic North East stone unturned.

Best Film by 12s and Under as voted for on www.filmstreet.co.uk

Knoydart Forest Trust, Knoydart, Scotland

Young children, aged between five and nine-years-old, objectively explore and discuss, through this honest documentary, the destruction of the Knoydart Forest that makes up much of this area in the highlands.

Cinetig, Cardiff, Wales

The Miners’ Institute was the hub of any Welsh valley town, but when the pits closed down so did everything that went with it. A group of young filmmakers aged between 15 and 17 have unearthed a piece of oral history from the memories of past members of the ‘Stute.

Georgina Studd, London

This film follows 16-year-old Georgina, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, trying to plan a trip out of the house with her friends. Georgina shows the lengths that she has to go to arranging an outing and charts her day overcoming several obstacles.