Hollywood star Hugh Jackman took part in a live Twitter chat yesterday for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation’s global film competition, Faith Shorts, which he is judging for the second year running.
Jackman, currently in Toronto, took time out of his busy schedule to answer questions about Faith Shorts sent in from around the world.
In response to a question from naomiwalmsley1 about why he decided to become a judge, Jackman tweeted: “Loved that it engages people from all over the world sharing their creativity’ and was “moved by so many of the submissions.’
Winning film makers from last year’s competition came online to personally thank Hugh for voting for their films: “Thank you judging my film last year. Cannot be grateful enough’ tweeted Tariq Chowdhury, a 23 year old Londoner, who was runner up in Faith Shorts 2010 for his film We are London.
Shiv Tandan, a 20 year old student from India who won best film for the 18-25 portable camera category last year answered a comical plea Hugh made to the winners at the awards ceremony to remember him when they were big shots in Hollywood: “Thank you SO MUCH last yr, sir! U changed my life. I might just take u up on ur “please cast me” offer! Any advice?’
Hugh’s advice to Shiv and all potential film makers was: “What’s more important is what you have to say than how you say it. Don’t be intimidated by the camera.’
He told the tweetisphere he was looking for: “Authenticity, originality, out of the box thinking’ in the 2011 Faith Shorts entries.
Faith Shorts 2011 aims to break down barriers by giving young people between the ages of 14 and 18 the opportunity to express what their faith means to them in their own words and take this to the global stage by winning the chance to see their film premiered at a ceremony at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in London. Deadline for 3 minute film submissions is 1 July.
Those without access to film making equipment were given the opportunity to win a camera to make their film. Young people from Nigeria, Pakistan, Israel, Palestine, India, Sierra Leone, Jordan, Egypt, Macedonia and the Philippines are now working on their films using the portable video cameras they have won.
For more information or to watch last year’s winning films, visit www.faithshorts.org.uk.
