Celebrities support national languages and film competition

The Language and Film Talent Awards (LAFTAs), is a nationwide competition to encourage young people between the ages of 13 and 21 to develop original short film clips that demonstrate the importance of language learning and to display them on YouTube.

Comedian Eddie Izzard is among the judging panel of high profile figures drawn from the worlds of languages, broadcasting and film, which includes broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald.

Izzard, who also performs in French, was keen to show his support for language learning,
commenting that, ‘More young people should get into languages; they’re fun, creative and you can use them to say whatever you want be it going for a job interview or swearing like a true national!'

Young people are asked to submit their entries of two minutes or less through the Languages Work website, which will then be uploaded to YouTube. The closing date for entries is 31 March 2008. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in the summer.

The judges will be looking for clips that demonstrate the most creative and original approach to the subject and the most convincing case for being able to speak more than one language, and will not be judging on technical ability.

As well as winning one of a range of prizes including trips to Spain and Germany and a state of the art video camera, winners will see their work displayed at prestigious venues including the Instituto Cervantes and the Goethe Institut.

Isabella Moore, Chief Executive of CILT, the National Centre for Languages said: ‘It is very
important that young people think about the positive benefits of learning foreign languages. This competition will encourage them to do this in a way that can be shared with other students and teachers.’

The competition is being run by CILT, the National Centre for Languages, in association with the Routes into Languages initiative to increase and widen participation in language learning. Full rules and information on the competition and judges is available at www.languageswork.org.uk.

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