Luke Hamza, 21 from Richmond won the Richmond Cut Films Awards Overall Judges Choice for his film, ‘See Behind the Curtains’. The awards took place at ODEON Richmond on Wednesday 14 June.  

The film ‘It All Starts’ made by seven young people from MTV Youth Hampton youth club won the National Cut Films Award 2016 Popular Choice Awards. 

Radio Jackie presenter Eddie Castle hosted the award ceremony at ODEON Richmond. 

The competition run by Cut Films (the education and prevention arm of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation) asks young people across the UK to research smoking and tobacco. They then make a two-minute advert to persuade their friends not to smoke, upload it to the Cut Films competition website and share it on their social media.  It is their take on the issues associated with smoking. 

Films made for the competition include issues like lung cancer, peer pressure, death, health impacts, child labour, shisha and tobacco marketing. 

Over 80 films were submitted from schools, youth projects and individuals from across Richmond. 

The winner, young filmmaker, Luke Hamza (aged 21) said: "It’s the first time I’ve won an award so it was a bit overwhelming but I’m so happy and want to do more in the future" 

Paula Chadwick, CEO of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation says ‘We sadly know all too well that exposure to tobacco smoke is linked to 85% of lung cancers in the UK. Through our Cut Films project, we are trying to prevent a new generation of lung cancer patients.’


Some of the films from Richmond have been nominated for the National Cut Films Awards 2017, which will take place at the Curzon Soho on 7 July.

Article supplied by Gemma Allwright