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TV Celebrity Will Best, host of T4 today launched the ‘anti-tobacco’ Cut Films North West 2012 Short Film Competition at University of Salford Manchester in MediaCityUK, along with Hollyoaks actress, fellow non-smoker and face of the competition, Jessica Forrest.
The competition run by The Deborah Hutton Campaign and Smoke & Mirrors youth anti-tobacco project, asks young people across the North West to research tobacco marketing or smoking in the media, make a two minute short film about it for their friends, upload to the competition website and share it on their social media. It’s their take on the issues associated with youth smoking. It’s an innovative peer-to-peer approach.
Key themes include the impact of celebrity and entertainment on young people’s smoking behaviour, as well as the current Government consultation on plain, standardised cigarette packaging and its impact on young people starting to smoke.
Emma Wrafter, Director of The Deborah Hutton Campaign and Cut Films said: “It’s a fact that two-thirds of smokers start smoking before the age of 18. When we still have 100,000 people dying each year in the UK from smoking related illnesses, talking to young people about the risks is vital. We’re delighted to be working with Tobacco Free Futures and the Smoke & Mirrors project on this very special competition. Issues like plain packaging are important for young people to understand because the choices they make will impact on their future health. We’re looking forward to seeing the talents of young people in the North West. ”
Andrea Crossfield, Director of Tobacco Free Futures who is funding the competition said: “Young people in the North West feel very strongly about the tobacco industry targeting them and their friends through the media and glitzy cigarette packaging. Many of them have already signed up to our Plain Packs Protect campaign at www.seethroughtheillusion.co.uk and we encourage others to sign up too. Our region is leading the way in the UK on youth tobacco issues, with research findings suggesting 8 out of 10 young people in the North West think that the Government should do more to tackle smoking. This competition is a great way to express their ideas on an issue they are passionate about, helping to make smoking history for young people”.
T4 youth presenter Will Best comments: “This competition actually gives young people some credit, and asks for their voice and their views on smoking. Most importantly, it gives young people in the North West the chance to do something genuinely creative to make a difference to their lives, and then celebrates that creativity. This isn't about adults telling them what to do. It's a short film competition in which young people do the research and make the films for their friends.”
The competition opens on 25th April 2012, closes on 20th July 2012 and voting for the films closes on 27th August 2012. The North West Awards Ceremony will take place in October 2012. Visit www.cutfilms.org/smokeandmirrors to enter and for free resources.
You can also follow the competition on social network sites facebook and twitter on www.facebook.com/cutfilmsproject and www.twitter.com/cutfilms
Hashtags = #cutfilms #plainpacks
Visit www.cutfilms.org/smokeandmirrors to find out more.
