The Language and Film Talent Awards (LAFTAs) is a competition for 13-21 year olds, run by CILT, the National Centre for Languages. Over the course of the competition, CILT asked young people to send in two-minute videos showing why languages are important.

CILT received over 160 entries from all across the UK, showing why we need languages: from being lost in a foreign country, to meeting the love of your life, to being attacked by sharks, cannibals or dragons…

The deadline for this year’s competition has now passed, but you still have the chance to get involved by joining in the ‘People’s Vote’, hosted by Multilingualvacancies.com. Vote on your favourite clips from the CILT shortlist and see how your favourites compare with the views of our celebrity judging panel, including Sir Trevor McDonald and comedian Eddie Izzard.

The winner of the ‘People’s Vote’ will receive a special prize sponsored by Multilingualvacancies.com at the LAFTAs awards ceremony, taking place in London in September 2008.

I’ve just popped over to the website to have a look at the 25 films that the celebrity panel shortlisted (that’s a short list!??) and cast my vote.
They include a HappyStreet disco (very familiar looking???), Barbie and Ken, some Geordie wide boys, a stuck lift, a spoof Mastercard advert and a Prime Minister showing his languages skills or lack of.

A couple of my favourites are below – the first, a rap, is very amusing although not sure it completely fits the brief.

Then there’s this one about False Friends. How many mistakes like this have I made! Not as good as the one someone on my degree course made on her year abroad when there were cockroaches in her kitchen , but that’s another story…

And finally, a couple of examples of animation using plasticine (as it’s my current preoccupation!)

So pop along to register your votes!