Stars join search for UK’s language and film talent
CILT, the National Centre for Languages is setting a challenge to young people and schools across the UK – Who can make the most creative two-minute video clip showing why languages are important?
This question is at the heart of the Languages and Film Talent Awards (LAFTAs), a national competition inviting 13-21 year olds to make short films about the importance of languages.
The competition has support from high profile judges including double Olympic champion Sebastian Coe and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory star Freddie Highmore.
The LAFTAs first launched in 2008, when over 750 young people got the cameras rolling for the chance to win fantastic prizes including trips to Spain, France and Germany. Even more are expected to take part in the competition, which aims to encourage more young people to learn a language.
This year’s LAFTAs include some exciting developments including the support of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).A special London 2012 category, invites entries linking languages to London 2012 and the Olympic and Paralympic Values. The category will be judged by LOCOG chair Seb Coe.
Other new twists include a World of Languages category – looking for the best clips involving lesser-taught languages - and regional heats run by Routes into Languages and CILT UK.
Freddie Highmore, the teenaged star who has acted alongside Johnny Depp and Russell Crowe in films including Finding Neverland and Sir Ridley Scott’s A Good Year, gave his support for the competition: ‘I’m very happy to be involved with LAFTAs. I’ve been lucky to travel a lot and have discovered that often the most rewarding places are the hardest to get to. They say that travel broadens the mind but if you don’t speak the language it narrows the view!’
Kathryn Board, Chief Executive of CILT, the National Centre for Languages said: ‘Last year we saw some incredibly creative ideas about why languages are important, from avoiding disastrous dinner dates to escaping from the falling Eiffel Tower! This year we’d like to see even more imaginative ways of showing the great value of languages in our lives.’
To find out more about the Languages and Film Talent Awards visit the LAFTAs page on our Languages Work website.
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