Star praise for film maker graduate

A Teesside University graduate has won praise from a celebrity A-lister after picking up a major accolade at the glittering Jameson Empire Film Awards.

Philip Askins, 25, graduated from Teesside University in 2010 with a BA (Hons) Computer Animation, and was nominated in the ‘Done In 60 Seconds' category for his 1940’s film noir take on Ridley Scott classic Blade Runner.

The film was shortlisted in an online poll and then was selected by the judges at the prestigious ceremony held at London’s Grosvenor Hotel.

Dame Helen Mirren singled the 25-year-old’s film out in her speech as she accepted her Empire Legend award.

'I’ve had an incredible night watching all these amazing awards being given,” she said.

'I especially loved the short movie. Wasn’t that amazing? I’ve never seen that before and I thought it was so exciting and such a great idea.'

Stellar names in attendance from the movie world included Danny Boyle, Sam Mendes, Edgar Wright, Kevin Spacey, Tom Hiddleston, Sir Ian McKellen and Martin Freeman.

'It was an absolutely surreal night,' said Philip, of Stokesley, who works as a freelance animator.

---