01
May
2013
|
23:00
Europe/London

Diane Abbott MP supports youth to kick the smoking habit

Diane Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, says Hackney is becoming the ‘creative capital’ of London, ahead of Hackney Cut Films Awards 2013.

The Hackney Cut Films competition asked young people in Hackney to research the issues that they and their friends face regarding smoking on a local level. They then made an under two minute short film about it for their friends, uploaded to the competition website and are currently sharing it on their social media in order to attract voting from Hackney residents.

The aim of the competition is for the young filmmakers to persuade their friends to not try smoking or to give up if they do.  11 films from Hackney have been entered into the competition and focus on a range of issues associated with tobacco and smoking. A Hackney Cut Films Awards Ceremony will take place in mid-July at Hackney Picture House.  

The Hackney community is invited to vote for their favourite Hackney film by visiting the website and voting through their social media or registering online to decide the ‘Hackney Cut Films Popular Choice Award’. A special judging panel of Hackney VIPs will decide the ‘Hackney Cut Films Judges’ Choice Award’.

Diane Abbott MP is on the judging panel for Hackney Cut Films, she said: “Smoking is still the number one cause of premature death and preventable disease in the UK, accounting for 18% of deaths in England. Hackney Cut Films Competition is an important and inspiring project, which raises awareness of the dangers of smoking, peer pressure, and the shocking effects of smoking.  It’s projects like this that are giving young people a voice, and establishing

Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, Hackney Council
Smoking is one of the main causes of health inequalities in Hackney. We need to give our young people in Hackney the best start in life possible and preventing smoking is critical. Traditional health messages about smoking no longer have the same impact they once did. That’s why innovative, new approaches like Cut Films are so vital. They not only deliver the message around the effect of smoking, they do so in a way that engages young people.
Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, Hackney Council

As part of the project, a special Cut Films teacher provided 10 workshops across the borough on anti-smoking campaigning and filmmaking in local schools and youth clubs.

Voting for the films closes on 10 May 2013. All Hackney films will also be entered into the national Cut Films competition. The National Awards will take place on 4 July 2013 at BAFTA HQ in Central London.
 
Visit www.cutfilms.org/hackney to find out more.