British acting star joins New Forest Film Festival judging panel

A TELEVISION star has been added to the judging panel for this year’s New Forest Film Festival.

Tyger Drew-Honey, who appeared in BBC sitcoms Outnumbered and Cuckoo, will help decide the narrative category in the student films contest and present the prize for it.

The nine-day festival from 8 to the 16 of June complements the Film: New Forest initiative being led by New Forest District Council. Those intending to enter the short film competition must enter by 12th May.

Winning films, as well as a variety of movies – many with a New Forest connection – will be shown at events happening in local venues throughout the festival.

There will also be expert Q&A sessions and tie-in events such as industry networking.

Highlights include screenings of Do Something Jake, a film by Brockenhurst college alumni Caroline Spence, The More You Ignore Me – which recently won Best Comedy at the National Film Awards – and The Boyfriend, which was directed by the late Ken Russell and will be introduced by his wife Lisi Tribble Russell.

The lead judge for the festival is esteemed film critic Mark Kermode, who lives in Brockenhurst.

Film:New Forest lead officer at NFDC, Natasha Davies, said more than 60 short films had already been submitted.

“With still around a month to go until the competition closes, we are really looking forward to viewing all the short films that show what an incredible amount of talent we have in the UK film industry,” she said.

“From horror through to documentary, the variety of entries is impressive.”

As reported by the A&T, the Film:New Forest scheme has seen the authority partner with Creative England to encourage film crews to the district.

Since its launch in 2016, it has proved hugely successful. Parts of the latest instalment in the Star Wars franchise, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation were shot at Fawley Power Station, while filming for ITV drama series Unforgotten took place at Lymington Quay.