State-of-the-art independent cinema, Saffron Screen, has been chosen to host the awards ceremony for a film competition run by the Royal Opera House Bridge in partnership with Elstree Studios and Elstree Film Design.

"A Sense of Place" is an exciting new film competition which challenges young people between the ages of 7-19 (up to 25 with special educational needs) living in Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and North Kent to make a film in 8 weeks. There are four prizes of £500 up for grabs, which will be given out at the award ceremony held at Saffron Walden’s community cinema in July.

Film and TV industry professionals will be judging the films and awarding one prize for each of the following four categories; Best Idea, Best Story, Best Look and Best Sound. The Royal Opera House Bridge has appointed independent production company Elstree Film Design to establish and run the competition and Elstree Studios are providing the prizes.

The judging panel includes cinematographer and Panavision Vice-President, Joe Dunton MBE (Poltergeist, Return Of The Jedi, The Mission, Secrets & Lies, Eyes Wide Shut and the Harry Potter films), BAFTA-nominated documentary film maker and C4 Commissioning

Editor, Darren Bender, Professor of Digital Film at the University of Hertfordshire and music video director, Peter Richardson, and Filmmaking Project Manager for Into Film, Daniel Smith.

The Royal Opera House is one of ten national Bridges working across England to connect children and young people to great art and culture. It is funded by the Arts Council and recently worked with Saffron Screen, Saffron Walden County High School and the Alec Hunter Academy to steer a film project with local children, culminating in the final film, The Detained, which was screened with great success at Saffron Screen last month.

Rebecca del Tufo, Saffron Screen’s Business Manager said: “As a community, independent cinema, we are very proud to have been chosen to host the A Sense of Place awards in July. We are also thrilled to continue our relationship with the Royal Opera House Bridge to help to continue to encourage and inspire young people with film."

The deadline for competition submissions is 2 July 2014 so there is still time to get creative if you're quick with a camera! The awards ceremony will be held at Saffron Screen on 16th July. For more information about how to enter, please visit the website.