Suffolk teenager heads to the BFI in London for prestigious awards after receiving film nomination

A filmmaker from Suffolk has been nominated for a national award.

Katie Bennett, 18, from Great Glemham is one of five people in the mix to win a top gong at the annual MediaMag Production Competition awards.

She will travel to the British Film Institute on Friday 11 July to find out how she fared in the animation category.

Katie – who studies A levels at One Sixth Form College this year – submitted a production called Paperweight and is hoping for success when she visits the home of British film in London. (Students from 46 other schools and colleges also entered).

Katie said: “I was very surprised and excited to be shortlisted. I made a film for my course and thought I may as well enter it. It took hours and hours to create. If I was to win, I would be really happy. I really want to work in film in the future so the nomination and possibility of winning is a big confidence booster.”

In terms of One Sixth Form College Katie continued: “One Sixth Form College has been good. We have been given a lot of opportunities to go on trips to the Globe Theatre and the IMAX cinema on the South Bank. I also got a chance to be part of an art project called ‘painting for change’ with the solicitors called Ellisons.”

Katie – who loves Pixar and Disney films and hopes to one day work for the BBC is off to the University of East Anglia to study film later in the year - and said to fellow young filmmakers – ‘if you have an idea – just go for it’.

Ahead of the announcement of these awards, Katie received a best film award at the annual One Sixth Form College creative arts awards. Lloyd Evans is head of art and design at One Sixth Form College. Lloyd said: “Katie is incredibly talented and we are so proud of her efforts.”