The future is bright for film buff Mairi

Newspaper column inches may become a regular thing for budding writer Mairi Small (14), should she decide to pursue a career in film reviews.
Mairi with film star Nicholas Pinnock - photo by Sam FriedrichMairi with film star Nicholas Pinnock - photo by Sam Friedrich
Mairi with film star Nicholas Pinnock - photo by Sam Friedrich

The St Ninian’s pupil made it all the way to the Empire in Leicester Square recently for Into Film’s inaugural awards — where she brought home the title for review of the year.

The education charity, supported by BFI through Lottery funding and Cinema First, honoured the UK’s finest young filmmakers, reviews and teachers — and Mairi beat other budding film writers to the post using her scene-setting way with words.

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Reviewing George Cukor’s 1944 mystery Gaslight, Mairi wrote: “It plays with your mind, and you feel claustrophobic and trapped in the house.

“I wouldn’t say Gaslight is scary, but it’s very tense. There’s a continuous sense of dread lingering over the plot and there were some moments when I was on the edge of my seat.”

Mairi has been a member of the film club at St Ninian’s — organised through the Into Film initiative — for more than five years.

And all that hard work paid off when Nicholas Pinnock, star of Fortitude and Monsters: Dark Continent, presented the Giffnock youngster with her award.

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Congratulating all of the young winners, Paul Reeve, CEO of Into Film, commented: “The levels of passion, thought and ingenuity on show throughout the process was truly inspiring, and we can’t wait to see where their talent leads.

“The future of film appears to be in very safe hands indeed and — who knows — this award could be the first of many for these young stars.”

Closer to home and Margaret Gorman, principal teacher of development at St Ninian’s, told The Extra: “We are absolutely delighted for Mairi. It’s a fantastic achievement and we are very proud of her.

“Mairi’s Film Club reviews are always of an incredibly high standard so it is great to see her being recognised at such a high level.”