North Lanarkshire’s school pupils have taken Scotland’s top film-making prize for under 18’s at the Discovery Youth Screen Award 2009.

The youngsters from the Lensheads Film School wrote and directed “Backfire”, an explosive short film that portrays how Frankie’s young life is turned upside down when someone asks him a favour that puts him on the wrong side of the law.

Pupils from St Andrew’s HS, Airdrie Academy, St Ambrose HS and St Aidan’s HS were involved in the making of the film, which was selected by an audience vote at a screening of nominated films.

Willie Davidson, who leads North Lanarkshire Council’s filmmaking initiative, he explained:

“There were over 50 submissions to the short film award and the youth jury chose seven for the shortlist.“

“These films were shown at the Discovery Film Festival. The audience – a mix of young people and industry professionals – then voted to choose the winner. It was a close run, but Backfire took the title.”

The Lensheads youth filmmaking group had two films in the shortlist (Backfire and Seaweed) and member Jack Frisky was at the DCA cinema to pick up the award from festival producer Katharine Simpson.

Katharine, from the festival organisers said:

“Backfire immerses you in Frankie’s dilemma, and is gripping from start to finish. Congratulations to The Lensheads team for producing such an accomplished film. I look forward to seeing more from this group.”

The prize includes the Discovery Youth Screen Award cup and a cheque for £250, which Lensheads have said they are going to invest in developing the screenwriting skills of their young filmmakers.

Jane Liddell, Head of Education Quality and Development, said: “North Lanarkshire Council’s Learning and Leisure Services has a long-term commitment to film education.

“While we have received several awards in the past, the Discovery Award is the most prestigious to date. Special thanks must go to First Light, who provided funding, and to everyone involved with the Lensheads project.”

The Discovery Youth Screen Award is given to the best short film made in Scotland by under 18-year-olds in the past 12 months. It is awarded annually at Discovery – Scotland’s leading youth film festival – which screens the best in international film for young audiences and this year welcomed 4000 young people at the DCA Cinema.