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BAFTA recognises local film heroes in national competition

14 January 2020

Annual ‘For The Love of Film’ competition highlights local champions bringing the joy of film to UK communities

Janet Dunn and Martin Fol of Plaza Cinema, Liverpool and Lizzie Banks of Oska Bright Film Festival, Brighton announced as winners

Winners to attend EE British Academy Film Awards on 2 February courtesy of EE

Pictures of the winners can be found here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/55tznb1boafhfm8/AABzgfEucQNGsfRbTCV1zg1la?dl=0

Janet Dunn and Martin Fol of Plaza Cinema, Liverpool, and Lizzie Banks of Oska Bright Film Festival, Brighton, have today been named the winners of BAFTA and EE’s second annual ‘For the Love of Film’ competition. Following a nationwide call for entries, winners were selected by an expert industry panel in recognition of their inspiring support and contribution to film in their local areas. The panel included BAFTA-winning director Amma Asante, broadcaster Edith Bowman, four-time BAFTA-winning writer/director Paul Greengrass, filmmaker and content creator Jack Howard, and Andrew Orr of BAFTA’s Film Committee.

The competition celebrates the tireless efforts of unsung heroes across the UK whose work helps people in their local community access and engage with film. The winners will enjoy a once in a lifetime experience with BAFTA and EE at the UK’s biggest celebration of film, the EE British Academy Film Awards on Sunday 2 February. This will include dinner and an overnight stay with The Savoy Hotel, hair and makeup appointments in the Official Style Lounge with Lancôme and Paul Edmonds, alongside an chauffer driven Audi for the day.

Andrew Orr of the BAFTA film committee said: “Film has the magical ability to bring us together but without people like Janet, Martin and Lizzie to champion opportunity at a local level many might miss out on the enjoyment that it brings.  Congratulations to our exceptionally worthy winners and to all this year’s entrants who are shining examples of community spirit and action.”

Janet Dunn and Martin Fol (Liverpool) fund and operate Liverpool’s Plaza Cinema, run predominantly by volunteers. The community cinema offers dynamic film-based educational programmes to schools, the volunteer sector and the general public. The Plaza has been an integral part of its local community since its opening in 1939.  When the cinema was threatened with closure in 1995, Dunn stepped forward to secure a 10,000-signature petition to save it. The Plaza Community Cinema re-opened on July 18th 1997, building a team that included Martin initially as a duty manager in 1999 and then as cinema manager in 2011.  The Plaza's programme includes organising various film courses for young people aged 13-19, helping to train them in film production and giving them the opportunity to experience the magic of showcasing their films on the big screen of the Plaza itself. The cinema also hosts autism and disability-friendly and dementia-friendly screenings. In the decades since its reopening in 1997, the Plaza has provided a safe, welcoming and affordable hub for its local residents and is a totally inclusive space for all. 

Lizzie Banks (Brighton) is the producer of Oska Bright Film Festival, the world’s biggest festival of short films made by and for people with learning disabilities, autism and Asperger’s. Lizzie has overseen the development of the festival from a one-day event to an international four-day celebration of films that show a different outlook on life. Oska Bright is planned, managed and delivered by a learning-disabled team supported by Lizzie. Oska Bright is now funded by the BFI and has BAFTA qualifying status. She secures screenings for films around the country with partners such as London Short Film Festival, Encounters and Aesthetica and lobbies TV and film execs to make the industry fully inclusive. Oska Bright 2019 screened 99 films from 17 countries. Lizzie has just joined the ICO’s Women in Leadership programme and is ambitious for the festival and its film makers.

The inaugural ‘For the Love of Film’ competition honoured Dan Ellis – Founder and Managing Director of Jam Jar Cinema and Iain MacColl – Senior Operator, Screen Machine. Find out more about last year’s winners, watch and share their short documentaries below:

Dan Ellis

Stream: https://youtu.be/gCduUQSYSEg

Embed: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gCduUQSYSEg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Iain McColl

Stream: https://youtu.be/pQItkrUvwxY

Embed: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pQItkrUvwxY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The EE British Academy Film Awards take place on Sunday 2 February. The ceremony will be broadcast exclusively on BBC One and BBC One HD in the UK and broadcast in all major territories around the world. On the night, www.bafta.org will feature red carpet highlights, photography and winner’s interviews, as well as dedicated coverage on its social channels including Facebook (/BAFTA), Twitter and Instagram (@BAFTA / #EEBAFTAs).

For further information, please contact: 
Ebba Blakeborough-Tait at freuds
T 020 3003 6579
E [email protected]

Notes to editors:

Please note ‘For The Love of Film’ is an annual competition, rather than a BAFTA award. Competition winners will receive tickets to attend the EE British Academy Film Awards 2020, dinner and an overnight stay with The Savoy Hotel, hair and makeup appointments in the Official Style Lounge with Lancôme and Paul Edmonds, alongside an chauffer driven Audi for the day.

About BAFTA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is a world-leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – which includes workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes in the UK, USA and Asia – BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For advice and inspiration from the best creative minds in working in film, games and television, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.