CHILD actors, producers and directors got their first taste of red-carpet life at Wallingford Children’s Film Festival.

Pupils from four schools were the VIPs at Wallingford Corn Exchange on Monday and Tuesday night.

The budding film-makers from St John’s Primary in Wallingford, Chalgrove Primary, The Treehouse School in Cholsey and South Stoke Primary, were premiering their own movies.

The four schools were competing for a chance to win £100 for the finest film.

Each film was between five to 10 minutes long and votes were cast by two judges and the audience.

The winning film was South Stoke’s movie about a school for superheroes.

In the film, the pupils – who are not allowed to use their powers at school – fight a group of evil superheroes trying to take over their school.

Among the winning team were Dorothy Hathaway and Xander Flakelar, both nine.

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South Stoke pupils Xander Flakelar and Dorothy Hathaway

Dorothy said: “It was amazing. I was proud of the film and we had great fun making it.

“It was really good to see it in the cinema. I loved it, the whole theatre was full of people.”

The Treehouse School’s film was about figures from the nativity scene who came to life in their box after being packed away when Christmas was over.

 

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The Treehouse School’s movie about a Christmas nativity

St John’s School filmed a story about science and the universe, while Chalgrove Primary School submitted two films – one about a children’s book coming to life, and another about fables that the children had written.

Film festival organiser Sally Eccleston, a parent at The Treehouse School, said: “Organising this Film Festival has been a lot of hard work but it is worth it to see the excitement and expectation on these children’s faces.

“Last year we had two schools taking part. This year we had four schools taking part and hired the Corn Exchange for two evenings.

“Next year is going to be even bigger and we are hopefully going to open the competition up to individuals as well.”