Barnoldswick cinema critic, 12, in final of contest (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Barnoldswick cinema critic, 12, in final of contest

9:00am Saturday 24th October 2009

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A 12-year-old film buff from Barnoldswick rubbed shoulders with the stars after reaching the final of a prestigious contest for budding critics.

Jack Uttley’s review of The Golden Compass, written as a homework assignment, earned him a top-four place in the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) Young Film Critic of the Year competition.

The West Craven High Technology College pupil travelled to BAFTA House in London for the star-studded awards ceremony, accompanied by his parents, John and Anne-Marie Uttley, brother Jonathan, and grandparents.

John said his son, from Barnoldswick CE School, had no idea his review had been submitted until he was contacted by contest organisers Film Education. Jack was one of four young people in the finals of the Best Junior Critic section. At the ceremony, the audience watched a short introduction on camera from actor Patrick Stewart and director Danny Boyle before the reviews were read out and winners invited on stage.

Jack met Blue Peter presenter Joel Defries and rubbed shoulders with actor Tom Felton who plays Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.

John said: “We were not sure how prestigious it was, but the gravity kicked in when we saw people like Joel Defries and Tom Felton. The head of 20th Century Fox UK was there too.

The competition offers young people aged four to 19 a chance to watch a film for free with their school and then write a review afterwards.

Despite showing a talent for analysing the cinematic merits of top films, John said Jack harboured dreams of becoming a games developer.

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