Barry Comprehensive Pupil Wins Film Review Of The Year Award

A 12 year old pupil from Barry Comprehensive School has seen off competition from around the UK to win a national film award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Into Film Awards were held at the ODEON Leicester Square in London on Tuesday 15 March, celebrating the creativity of children and young people in film. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhys Powell, was nominated for an award in the Review of the Year Category, with his thoughts on 2001: A Space Odyssey. His review of Stanley Kubrick’s classic film identified common themes running through the film of religion, rebirth, transcendence and evolution, which must have impressed the judging panel. Into Film receive around 5000 reviews a week, so to be nominated and shortlisted was a fantastic achievement. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhys said, “I was really happy to win the award. I like reviewing films because I enjoy watching them and having to describe them in a few paragraphs for other people to understand.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Headteacher, Gerard McNamara, was delighted with Rhys’ achievement: “To see Rhys winning a national award is exciting and rewarding. As a school, we work extremely hard to challenge our boys to write creatively and expressively. Rhys’ review of 2001: A Space Odyssey is a mature and intelligent account of the film and he should be very proud of this award.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhys was presented with his award by the BBC’s Entertainment Correspondent, Lizo Mzimba. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​