19 October, 2006 - Minister Mary Hanafin Presents FÍS Film Awards 2006 to children from 24 schools

Over 800 young film makers were honoured today at a special awards ceremony - the 2nd FÍS National Film awards - at the Helix Theatre in DCU. Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin T.D. presented awards to pupils from each of the 24 primary schools, from around Ireland, in a variety of categories of film making.

Nominees for this year's awards ceremony were selected during regional screening events in fifteen locations around Ireland, with many of the screenings taking place in cinemas.  Children love working on FÍS: they love the medium and they are stimulated by the range of opportunities for creativity which it provides.

Presenting the awards to students from the 24 schools Minister Hanafin said "I feel so honoured being among so many producers, set designers, directors, scriptwriters - the stars of the future! I am very impressed with your creative work and with the wide range of topics covered in your films this year. You really must have had a lot of fun in making your films with your teachers."

Minister Hanafin congratulated all those children who took part in the FÍS Project in 75 schools, along with their parents, teachers and local communities, who supported them throughout. "Film is a powerful and engaging medium which involves children using all their skills to create an original work.  By producing a film from the very start of the process children become active learners.  Creating the film projects means that students engage in a hands on way with the curriculum - through creative writing, drama, visual arts, designing sets, communication and team working. It really is a truly wonderful learning opportunity for children, giving them a chance to enrich their classroom experiences."

A commemorative FÍS clapperboard was presented to each of the 24 schools present today as a mark of their outstanding achievement in film. Awards were presented in a number of different categories including Best Cinematography, Best Original Script, Best Use of Special Effects, An Scannán is fearr as Gaeilge and Best Use of Camera.  Three special awards were also presented for High Achievement in the art of Film Making while the overall 2006 film of the year - Aileen MacKeogh Award - was presented in recognition of an Outstanding Achievement in the art of Film Making. 

FÍS is a film project for primary schools which was initiated by the Department of Education and Science. The National Centre for Technology in Education in collaboration with Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology is rolling out the FÍS project to schools throughout the country.   75 primary schools participated in the project in the 2005/06 academic year. 

ENDS

(See separate list with names of each of the winning schools)