Students scoop short-film honours

STAR turn . . . Thomas Grimley (centre) collects his award from (left to right) Jody Latham (”Shameless”), host Tina Malone, Alice Barlow (”Hollyoaks”) and Peter Grant (Liverpool Echo)

TWO Oldham College students have had their first taste of Oscar-style success

Thomas Grimley (18) and Victoria Kinsley (17) scooped two gongs at the star-studded Clapperboard awards at Liverpool’s Playhouse Theatre.

The project allows 14 to 19-year-olds in the North-West to make short films about issues that affect their lives such as racism, knife crime and gang culture.

Nine were produced this year with the teenagers’ achievements celebrated at the ceremony hosted by actress Tina Malone, who plays Mimi Maguire in the hit Channel 4 show “Shameless”.

Big names presenting the awards included writer Jimmy McGovern, “Royle Family” star Ricky Tomlinson and actors from “The Bill”, “Hollyoaks”, “Brookside”, “Casualty” and “Coronation Street”.

The Oldham College duo worked on the film “Blind Justice”, whose central character steals from a fellow student to pay back a loan shark.

Thomas collected the best achievement award for technical support in sound while Victoria was named best supporting actress.

Organiser Maureen Sinclair said: “It was a fantastic celebration. So many well-known people gave up their time to support the young people’s creative achievements.”