Sweet success for IFSW student as Ice Cream film scoops Shoot Wales Competition prize!

(Shoot Wales winner, IFSW Student Rhiannon Tate meets Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones on the set of Robin Hood at Freshwater East)

During a recent visit to the film-set of Robin Hood at Freshwater East, the Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones also had the opportunity to meet Rhiannon Tate, a SSAW film student with a bright future.

It’s been a great summer so far for Rhiannon, a BA film student from International Film School Wales who has taken full advantage of opportunities to enhance her training. Not only has she secured an exciting SSAW work placement on the set of Robin Hood, and has been given chance to take part in exchange programme with Ryerson University in Cananda, but Rhiannon has beaten off stiff competition to win the ‘Shoot Wales’ competition with her film Ice Cream.

Organised by Visit Wales and with promotional support from SSAW, the competition invited student and graduate filmmakers from universities in Wales to submit film of 3 minutes or less, which celebrated Wales as a destination for a diverse range of contemporary holidays.

Visit Wales worked with Creative Business Wales and the Wales Screen Commission on developing the idea and also worked with the Festival Company and Screen Academy Wales to encourage film students to enter the competition.

The entries were judged by an experienced panel from the film, music and tourism sectors and included Justin Kerrigan (Director, Human Traffic, I Know you Know), Rhys from the Goldie Lookin Chain, and Hannah James from Visit Wales. During a judging day at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff the panel chose Ice Cream by Rhiannon Tate from IFSW as the winner.

"The film maker has uncovered a real human interest story that brings to life the joy of Wales for both visitor and those that live here. The film covered many elements of what makes a holiday in Wales special without seeming contrived" said Hannah James.

"It was an endearing film about a man who fell in love with Wales and moved to Pembrokeshire to start a family. A heartfelt and intelligent film" added fellow juror Justin Kerrigan, Filmmaker.

As winner of the prize, Rhiannon has won a £2000 career development fund, one week’s work experience at top advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy - one of the biggest advertising agencies in the world and the one behind the current Visit Wales advertising campaign - and her film will now be shown on www.visitwales.co.uk

The Heritage Minister, said: “I’d like to congratulate Rhiannon on winning the competition and look forward to seeing the new Wales promotional film online.”
Rhiannon said: “It couldn't really have been better, I'd just found out that I'd got some work on Robin Hood when I got the phone call to tell me I'd won the competition. It's great to have won, thanks to everyone who contributed to the film; the money will really help to fund my time at film school.”

For more competitions and opportunities, read the SSAW monthly eBulletin!