Henry Smith MP is delighted to congratulate local Northgate resident, Callum Johnston, on having reached the final for the Parliamentary film competition FILM THE HOUSE after being selected by a panel of industry heavyweights. Henry previously nominated Callum’s film ‘Crossed Paths’ for the award.
Henry said:
“I’m thrilled to hear that Callum is in the final of FILM THE HOUSE and pleased to have the opportunity to support this brilliant initiative. FILM THE HOUSE showcases the best of budding British talent and I wish Callum the best of luck in the final – I for one will certainly be there to show my support.
“By nominating Callum’s film for the national competition, I hope it’ll help raise awareness of the importance of intellectual property rights, film and the creative industries as well as the broader issues raised within his short film, ‘Crossed Paths’.
“It has been a pleasure to work with the event organizer, fellow Sussex MP, Mike Weatherley, on this and supported by the British film industry, in creating an opportunity for aspiring film makers to screen their productions.”
FILM THE HOUSE is a national competition for aspiring UK filmmakers, directors and script writers that aims to raise political awareness of the importance of copyright and intellectual property to the film industry. Categories include Drama/thriller/action, comedy, music video, documentary, scripts, and a separate category for under 18’s.
Amateur film-makers were invited to enter their films into the competition earlier this year. Members of Parliament subsequently nominated the best submissions from their constituency and these were presented to a panel of industry experts who determined the finalists.
The winners of FILM THE HOUSE will be announced at the Award Ceremony at the House of Commons on Tuesday 30th October. Winners will have their film screened on the House of Commons terrace, with prizes including studio tours, work experience, and private screenings for friends and family.
Mike Weatherley MP, founder of the competition, said:
“FILM THE HOUSE is only in its first year, but we’ve been really pleased with both its popularity and with the outstanding quality of the submissions we’ve received. I know that the judges found it really very difficult to select the finalists, as they were all such high quality. FILM THE HOUSE is already in the top five biggest Parliamentary competitions, which is a testament to the fact that Britain is brimming with fresh talent.
“FILM THE HOUSE demonstrates why it is so important we build a sustainable market for film. The film industry supports over 100,000 jobs in the UK, and intellectual property is vital to sustaining those jobs and the profit British films bring to our economy; Government must work with industry to ensure that creators are properly rewarded for their work.”