WALTHAMSTOW: First film festival begins today (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAMSTOW: First film festival begins today

10:16am Friday 3rd September 2010 in Your Local Areas By Safira Ali

THE PRIZEWINNERS at the inaugural Walthamstow International Film Festival have been announced.

The festival showing films from around the world starts today.

All films featured are five minutes long or under and suitable for family viewing.

They will be shown on a loop for ten days.

The films are being shown at Beyca in Grove Road, Walthamstow, every day from 10am to 5pm.

The panel of judges include MP Stella Creasy, director Dominic Stinton, whose documentary on Walthamstow market was highly commended at Cannes in 2009, and Time Out film Critic David Jenkins.

The top three films come from Spain, Japan and Russia.

Lost Gritones, by Robert Toledo, was awarded first prize.

It is a short tale of unrequited love.

Second prize was awarded to Grandfather's Skip, a hand-drawn animation from Japanese illustrator Ken Kaizu which puts a spring in the step of an elderly couple out for their evening walk.

And the third prize went to Russia's Alexei Dimitriev's short film Abstract?, which examines two famous paintings.

Judge Dominic Stinton said of the winning film, Lost Gritones: “A gem of a 'short short'. Brilliantly observed and acted - you'll laugh and you'll squirm. A worthy winner of the inaugural Walthamstow Film Festival, all involved have a big future.”

In addition to the three prizes for international entries, the festival will also be awarding a special Audience Prize.

As well as watching all the films being screened at the festival, the audience are encouraged to nominate their favourite film for the Audience Prize.

Local artist, Sylvestia Shillingford, has made a glass trophy featuring the festival's greyhound logo and the prize will be announced at a ceremony on the last day of the festival on Sunday, September 12, at 5pm.

Screenings are free and free popcorn provided.

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