A GROUP of budding movie makers from Stoneybatter has received an award from the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) for their powerful anti-smoking short film.
Stoneybatter Community and Training Centre (CTC) Youth Group entered the ICS X-Hale Film Festival that aims to encourage young people to spread the word about the dangers of smoking.
According to the ICS, research shows that most teenage smokers will still be trying to quit in five years time.
Over 38 youth groups from around the country entered this year’s X-Hale Film Festival, which took place at the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield. Stoneybatter CTC’s film project
‘The Late Debate’ was recognised as conveying the best educational messaging against the tobacco industry by the judging panel, which consisted of representatives from the healthcare, health promotion, film and entertainment industries.
In total, over 200 young people gathered to showcase their film projects on the big screen during the festival earlier this summer.
With each short film focused on the issue of smoking, the young people sent a clear message to the tobacco industry in Ireland using the medium of film.
ICS say young people are the primary target for tobacco industry marketing and research shows they respond more effectively to brand imagery than older age groups.
The proposed generic packaging of cigarettes here in Ireland is expected play an important role in the fight against youth smoking here. According to statistics, young people in Ireland start smoking at a younger age (16.4 years) than their European counterparts.
However, the young people attending the X-Hale Film Festival were already fighting back with 38 films highlighting the harmful effects of smoking.
Respiratory problems, reduced physical fitness, displeasing aesthetical effects and tobacco marketing techniques were all featured in the movies that were made in an effort to encourage young people to kick the habit, or not to start smoking at all.
CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, John McCormack, said it was well known that children and adolescents who smoke cigarettes were more susceptible to ill-health.
“We know that the tobacco industry is targeting young people to replace the smokers that have died or quit,
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“As a result, it is imperative that we continue to encourage young people to educate themselves and each other around these killer products.
“Most teen smokers who want to quit are still trying five years later. We need to reach these young people before it’s too late.
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Kevin O’Hagan, Health Promotion Manager at the Irish Cancer Society, said the X-Hale Film Festival was an empowering opportunity for young people to have their say on the issue of smoking.
“It’s clear that these youth groups aren’t fooled by Big Tobacco,
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“They have sent a rallying call to their peers to pay attention to the harmful effects of smoking and to the tricks of the industry. X-Hale ultimately aims to prevent young people from starting to smoke and to remain smoke free.
“We congratulate Stoneybatter CTC Youth Group on their contribution to the Festival and are delighted to see how passionate they are about X-Hale.
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