Wirral International Film Festival award winners - plus video report

by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

THE very first Wirral International Film Festival reached its conclusion on Friday night, with award winners recognised at a packed Queens Hotel.

Almost 100 films were shown throughout the week, with genres ranging from animation to documentary, and short films to music videos, spread over each day.

The auditorium was full to bursting as film-makers, film-goers, their supporters, friends and families, waited with bated breath to find out which efforts made the judges’ pick.

Prolific Wallasey director Ryan Kruger picked up two awards, best music video for Fake Up and best documentary for South African Cops.

The Under-16 gong went to Stephen Smith, and his team of friends from Mosslands School, who also picked up the Alan Clark Award for innovative film-making.

The best short film was judged to be Johnny Parker’s Beauty and the Butcher, while Daniel Fox bagged the feature film award for his work, Dreamscape and Frank Baker won the animation award with Wings.

Vinny James won the Vesbim Award, for special personal achievement, creating his film That Effing Life after turning his back on an existence that had seen him go to prison three times.

And the Wirral News Award, based entirely on film-goers’ votes, was won by Helen Cooley, Sarah Burgess and Caroline Reid, for their work, 72 Beats Per Minute.

Helen, a former Weatherhead High pupil, told the News: “I’m made up, I didn’t expect it at all, and to be runner up in the short films as well - I’m over the moon.”

Fiona Maher, who runs her own production company, said: “This is the first year and I predict it will develop and grow.

“Next year will be double the size and it’s going to become a huge underground hit.

“To be shown at the first one is a real privilege.”

Alan Veste and Phil Bimpson organised the event.

Alan said: “We’re chuffed to bits, very happy, because we did it on a shoestring.

“All the people who came down throughout the week loved it, we did it for nothing and didn’t charge anybody anything.

“Next year will be even bigger.”