The red carpet was rolled out at the Harlequin Theatre, Redhill on Wednesday night, November 21st 2007, for young film-makers from all over Surrey.
They were there for the premiere of their films which had been nominated for the YMCA Millennium Volunteer film festival by a panel of young people.
Twelve films out of a total of 20 entries were shown to an audience of family and friends, who later voted for their favourite. The films ranged from documentaries to comedy and animation. The winning film, entitled “Bobs Your Uncle”, was about the care system and was made by a group of young people from the Surrey Peer Education and included personal accounts of young people's lives in the youth care system.
X-Factor finalist Ashley McKenzie performed three numbers to the crowds and then took part in an interview on stage with two Millennium Volunteers who asked him questions about his singing career and hopes for the future. Reigate and Banstead Mayor, Cllr Dorothy Ross-Tomlin was also a special guest and handed out certificates to Millennium volunteers who had completed between 100, 200 and 500 hours voluntary service in the past year.
She later said: “There was a great range of interesting ideas for films. Some were thought provoking, some amusing and some disturbing, but all showed a huge display of talent.”
Audience member, Shahnaz, a Millennium Volunteer at the YMCA café, was inspired by the evening stating, “I loved the festival and will love to go again and enter my own film” She has already been discussing ideas for a storyboard!
