Jamie Dornan presents Co Down students with a prestigious award for their short films

St Colmcille’s School, which Crossgar directs in his short film Cereal Killers, received the Audience Award at the gala yesterday.

The award was presented to them by Hollywood star of Co Down, Jamie Dornan.

The film, which was produced by over 18 school students, is a comedy in which cereal boxes come to life to turn the tables on the school’s ungrateful breakfast club.

It was nominated for the Into Film Awards for the best film in the 12-15 age category, in a category sponsored by the global film studio Paramount Pictures.

Crossgar School students win prestigious award for their short film

Although this short film – the brainchild of English major Victoria Polly, who said the experience allowed her students to learn more about filmmaking and art – did not win in this category, it did win the audience award.

The Audience Award was voted on by citizens via social media, making it the only Into Film award decided by popularity alone. Nearly 12,000 votes were cast on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Five students and teachers of our school attended the award ceremony.

Headteacher Seamus Hanna said: “I am absolutely delighted, immensely proud and almost speechless to see the incredibly talented students and wonderful staff who had the courage to let our pupils’ imaginations run wild.

“The icing on the cake was when my colleague from Co Down, Jamie Dornan, presented the award.”

Budding filmmakers from the school were joined by 19-year-old Caireen Ferguson from Ballynahinch, who also collected an award on the evening.

She won the Best Animation Award (12+) sponsored by Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures in the UK for her film Frog Flight.

Her award was presented by Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt, who revealed her pregnancy at the awards show, and Heartstopper actor Obaj Donovan.

A Ballynahinch teenager wins the award for best animation at The Into Film Awards

Its dialogue-free animation shows a young frog deciding that he wants to fly like a bird.

A former Assumption grammar student said: “It’s unbelievable. I feel like I’m in a dream!

“Film, and especially animation, has been a source of happiness and inspiration for me throughout my life. It has helped shape me into who I am today, and the opportunity to share my film with others is indescribable.”

Frog Flight is Caireen’s first feature-length animated narrative sequence, for which Caireen also won the joint award for Best A2 Animated Sequence at the CCEA Showcase Awards 2023. She is currently studying Animation at university.

Sean Kelly, NI program manager at Into Film, said: “We are delighted that both NI nominees have won awards for the incredible work of our talented young people and their dedicated teachers. We encourage and support schools to place film at the heart of their education.”