Young filmmakers scoop award for documentary about much-loved playground
A group of budding filmmakers won “Best Flick” in an annual film competition for their mini-documentary about an adventure playground.
Run by charity London Play, the London Adventure Play Awards were staged at Prince Charles Cinema, off Leicester Square on Thursday.
London Play campaigns for more and improved out-of-school play services for children and young people across London. Their annual awards invite entries from adventure playgrounds and other open access play areas in the capital, to celebrate their role in children’s lives.
A group of about 50 children from Triangle Adventure Playground in Ashmole Street, Oval, between the age of six and 17 were involved in the creation of the winning Best Flick.
Their film showed children playing on the giant rope swings and zip-line, roasting marshmallows over a fire and enjoying an overnight camp – all in the inner-city playground.
Winning crew member, Sophie Aguilar, 10, who lives in Oval said: “I really enjoyed it, it was really fun and I’m very grateful that Triangle won an award.”
Entries from 16 play areas were shortlisted for this year’s awards. All the film entries had to be two minutes long and made by children.
On the awards night, about 250 children gathered at the cinema to watch their film screenings and to hear the winners announced.
Other winners included children from The Markfield Project in Markfield Road, Haringey, in the ‘Weird and Wonderful’ category for their film about the death – and resurrection – of SpongeBob SquarePants.
Fiona Sutherland, director of London Play, said: “These annual awards are a joyous occasion that we look forward to hosting every year.
“But there is a very serious side to these awards.
“London has about 70 staffed adventure playgrounds, many located in the least affluent parts of the capital.
“They provide a vital lifeline for children. Building skills and improving mental and physical health.
“Despite the amazing work that Triangle and other adventure playgrounds do, London has seen the closure of a dozen adventure playgrounds in the past decade. Those remaining are in a constant fight for survival.
“These awards are about celebrating – but also making more people aware of how desperately needed these places are.”
Pictured top: Children from the winning Triangle Adventure Playground film crew at the awards on Thursday (Picture: London Play)
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