The Port of Tyne has revealed the winners of the region’s leading photography and film awards.
Durham Captain Paul Collingwood was judge for one of the awards, as a keen artist himself, Paul selected the best photograph in the People award category. As Paul is currently away in India commentating on the England tour, Durham paceman Stephen Harmison attended the awards to present the prize.
At an inspirational showcase event at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, attended by the internationally renowned judges and a number of eminent North East guests, the finalists found out who had won each of the six categories.
The competition stretches over six months and although it is focussed on the people and places of the North East, it attracts entries from all over the world. The winners and runners up entries are on display at the BALTIC from today and will be exhibited at other venues across the region throughout 2013.
The response this year was phenomenal, with more people of all ages than ever before taking part. The number of people entering Reflect was up 40% to almost 1,300 people and 4,000 photos and films were entered.
The unparalleled response this year made selecting the winners an unenviable job for the judges.
Judging the Reflect Youth Film category Steve Cram MBE, said: “I am delighted to play a small part in the Reflect Awards, and really enjoyed looking at all of the entries.
“The films entered in the youth category are all worthy winners, and I’d like to congratulate all of the finalists.”
Steve picked Lily Kroese aged 11 from Wylam as his winner for her film ‘Tyne’.
Academy award winning film producer, David Parfitt originally from Sunderland judged the over 16’s film category and chose a film featuring Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade by Chris Ainsley, 21, from Whitley Bay as the outright winner
While former BBC weather presenter Trai Anfield who judged the Environment Category chose John Race, 65, from Burnopfield’s superb photo ‘Dereliction’ as her winner. Trai said: “I was amazed at the entries, the clever use of light and how they captured some really unusual images so wonderfully.”
Durham and England cricketer Paul Collingwood judged the People category. The winner was Yul Pitallano 36, from Sunderland, with his photograph of children and families playing games in the street. Paul said: “The photos evoked the spirit of North East England and even with some help it was an incredibly difficult job to select a winner.”
People Catagory Award Winner: Yul Pitallano 36, from Sunderland
Andrew Moffat, Port of Tyne’s Chief Executive, said: “All of the Reflect winners and runners up are of a very high standard. The competition was outstanding this year with entries submitted from as far afield as Italy, Australia and the Czech Republic.
“Reflect is an important part of our commitment to the community and it is fantastic to see how many people feel moved to go out and take pictures or make films inspired by the North East region. That’s exactly what the competition set out to do and we’re very pleased that it’s become such a big event.”
The Reflect Awards finalists’ exhibition will be on display in Level 2 at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art from 11 Dec until 31 January before going on tour at venues throughout the North East.
To view the photos and films from 2012 and for the full list of winners and runners up visit www.portoftyne/reflect