A nine year old Colfe’s student has made a documentary film about wine and had it shortlisted by two International Film Festivals.

Year 5 pupil, Huw Olding’s debut documentary is called ‘Making Red Wine at Oldingmanor Vineyard’.   The 11 minute film was entered for the under 15 category at the Cinemagic Young Filmmaker Awards which took place in Belfast in December and also for the Young Film Makers Competition in Lancaster, both of which shortlisted his work out of the hundreds of entries they received.

Huw’s dad, Paul is  waiting to hear from the competition at the Lancaster film festival as they are announcing the winner in February.

“We have our own allotment vineyard in Lee which although just off St Mildreds Road, on the South Circular, is a fully functioning vineyard.  Huw took the initiative to make this film. It was his idea. He really wanted to make a film about how the vineyard worked.  He asked for a camera, so  I found him an old camcorder and he then wrote the script, asked all the questions and put the documentary together.”

Huw had great fun making the film.  “I liked being out there making the film from scratch.  I particularly like de-stemming the grapes and then stepping on them ready for them to go into the Press.”

Huw wasn’t sure though whether this experience was going to turn him into a film maker when he grows up. “I enjoyed it so I might live my life that way but I’m thinking I might start up my own wine shop.  If I won about a million pounds on the Lottery I would set up a wine shop, like the ones in Lee, selling my own homemade wine.”

Paul’s dad added: “The family is very proud of Huw because this is something he wanted to do himself and it’s a great achievement.”

Head of the Prep School, Mr Gallagher said “This is a fantastic accomplishment at his age. Not only is it an informative film, but it is also very entertaining and a must see for all budding film makers and wine enthusiasts.”

You can watch the film at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mkRDKWlhwQ

More information about the film festivals at: http://www.lancasterchildrensfilmfestival.co.uk/

www.cinemagic.org.uk