RISING BRITISH DIRECTOR SCOOPS £14,000 IN 14 ISLANDS FILM CHALLENGE

Winner Robin Schmidt I(center) with delegation including Minister of Tourism & Aviation the Hon Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace (far right) & Dir. Gen. of Tourism, Vernice Walkine (2nd from left)

National search for future film-making talent ends at awards ceremony in London

The search for the UK’s most talented film director in Britain came to an end last night as 32 year old Robin Schmidt was announced as the most talented filmmaker in the country, winning £14,000 to launch his career. 

Held at The Princess Anne Theatre, BAFTA in London, The 14 Islands Film Challenge Awards presented four awards to the hottest filmmakers in the UK. Oscar-nominated producer Finola Dwyer and chair judge and BBC director Bharat Nalluri awarded prizes on the night, including the Armchair Critics award, voted by the public to Kevin Curtis. 

As well as taking the first prize of £14,000 Robin Schmidt also becomes the Canon Ambassador for 2010, he will be trained to be a professional video representative and brand envoy for the leading camera manufacturer. Second place went to 28 year old Nimer Rashed. He was presented with Canon camera equipment worth over £2,500 to help him create future feature films and documentaries which could be seen by millions of people in years to come.

Third prize, a guest place on the renowned short film course at the leading centre of excellence, the National Film and Television School was awarded to 27 year old Mark Drake.  The Armchair Critics award, voted by over 2,000 online followers of the challenge, named Kevin Curtis as their winning filmmaker. He will win a high specification Canon camera.

  (l-r) Mark Drake (Mayaguana) 3rd place, Winner Robin Shcmidt, Nimer Rashed (Inagua) 2nd place and Kevin Curtis (Crooked Island) Armchair Critics Winner

Last October, The 14 Islands Film Challenge set out to find the country’s most gifted filmmakers in a nationwide campaign to support the home-grown talent of Britain’s film industry. Of the 150 filmmakers from across the UK who were accepted into the challenge just 14 filmmakers were given a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend two weeks filming on an idyllic island in The Bahamas drawing on scenery which has been the backdrop of many iconic films including; Pirates of the Caribbean, Casino Royale and The Silence of the Lambs.

In the first round of the national film challenge, a shortlist of 42 filmmakers were asked to film their local heroes. From those entries the panel of judges chose the final 14 filmmakers to fly out on an all expenses paid trip to The Islands of The Bahamas. Each filmmaker created a five-minute short film, capturing the true spirit of Bahamian life and communicating the universal messages that unite film audiences everywhere; love, beautiful landscapes, history and mythical legends. One filmmaker uncovered the tale behind the mythical creature that can bring you eternal luck on Andros Island, the Chickcharnie. 

Group shot, front seated (l-r) DDG, Finola Dwyer, Bharat Nalluri and standing far right second from last (Judge David Parry from Canon) and next to him (with glasses and brown shoes) Judge Nik Powell
 

Winner and man of the moment, Robin Schmidt said: “I am so excited to be crowned the winner of The 14 Islands Film Challenge, it is an amazing feeling to really succeed and be recognised for my work as a film director. The film industry is such a tough place to break in to, but tonight I feel like I have taken a giant leap in my career and hope to keep taking these big steps from now. It’s challenges like this that give the next generation of filmmakers a shot to make the big time. This has given me the determination to keep making films and sharing my view of the world with everyone.”

Supported by the National Film and Television School (NFTS) and The Bahamas Tourist Office, the challenge sought to engage with up and coming or professional filmmakers to give them a platform to launch their career. Tommy Thompson, Deputy Director General, Bahamas Tourist Office and Challenge Judge explains: “Seeing what these promising filmmakers have created, given only two weeks and doing all the work themselves is fantastic. They have captured the beauty of our Islands, from the smallest conch shell to uncovering the hidden treasures of The Exumas. Whether you’ve been a hundred times or never before, the Islands give everyone something different each time and that magic has been captured in these films.”

Bharat Nalluri whose rise to fame has included directing BBC-smash hits such as Spooks, Hustle and Life on Mars chaired the panel of esteemed Judges who reviewed and selected the finalists. Here he talks about the importance of giving new filmmakers a chance to prove their talent: “These 14 professional filmmakers have travelled to beautiful locations, mixed with industry experts, created touching stories and have had the best equipment given to them to do what they love. The British film industry needs to provide opportunities like this to keep our directors talent thriving, fresh and alive.”

The remaining judges are David Parry, Product Specialist from Canon Consumer Imaging Canon and Nik Powell, Director of NFTS.

To see the films created by winners Robin Schmidt, Nimer Rashed and Mark Drake and all 14 of the UK’s hottest filmmakers, visit www.bahamas.co.uk