FUTURE STARS OF THE NORTH WEST EMBARK ON A CELEB-PACKED WEEKEND

The votes have been counted for the Smokefree North West short film competition, ‘Smoke & Mirrors’, and finalists from across the region are now looking forward to a campaign weekend this Saturday – Sunday at Trafford Hall, Chester.

Students were asked to create a short film idea that focused on getting across important messages on the marketing of cigarettes, despite advertising restrictions, and unveiling existing negative practice within the tobacco industry such as deforestation and child labour.

On the panel of judges was Matt Littler and Darren Jefferies who played Max and OB in hit TV soap Hollyoaks, who commented: “We had some great submissions into the short film competition. Some of the stories were extremely creative and forward thinking and we were very impressed by the hundreds of entries – the North West is a very talented region!”

Matt and Darren will be on hand to help get the creative juices flowing during the campaign weekend, along with former Hollyoaks’ Producer Phil Redmond and renowned american anti-tobacco campaigner and Director of the Centre of Tobacco Research and Education, Stan Glantz. The trio will work with the finalists to help craft their short film ideas and broaden their knowledge of the negative practices behind the tobacco industry. The finalised film ideas will then compete in an X-Factor style judging process, where Matt, Darren and Phil will work with Smokefree North West and a panel of young people to decide on the final winner.

The winner will get the chance to see their short film produced and previewed at their local cinema, as well as seeing their film go viral on YouTube as part of Smoke Free North West’s wider campaign. The film will premier on 14 December 2009.

Andrea Crossfield, Director of Smokefree North West, said: “We are thrilled with the number of submissions our short film competition received as it proves that young people from the North West are really thinking about the more serious issues behind smoking, such as the deforestation, and encourage the tobacco industry to take further steps to protect young people.

“Smokefree North West wants to use this campaign weekend to empower young people and support the region’s talented young creatives in encouraging their peers to make their own decisions and invest in the health of their own and future generations.”