The winners, all aged between 14-25, were visiting the major film making facility, where a host of famous British movies have been filmed including the Harry Potter series, as part of their prize for winning an award at the inaugural Film Nation: Shorts Awards ceremony in December. Film Nation: Shorts is a London 2012 Cultural Olympiad initiative, supported by Panasonic, which aims to engage young people in the craft of film making and identifying new talent.

On arrival, the winners were welcomed to the Panasonic Experience Centre at the studios by Steve Lucas, who inspired the young directors with tales of film making experiences, before introducing the special screening of a showreel of Pinewood’s greatest productions.

To gain creative inspiration for filming their own 3D movie later in the day, the group were then given special access to the studio’s 100 acres of backlots, including the huge underwater filming stage and the blue screen filming facility, where the winners could experience the inner workings of Pinewood.

The winners were then given the opportunity to pose for photos against the backdrop of a huge ‘Pinewood’ sign, before breaking for lunch like film stars on location on a traditional Routemaster catering bus.

The second part of the day was dedicated to familiarising the budding directors with the latest 3D technology at the Panasonic Experience Centre, where the winners were taught the basics of filming with 3D camcorders on a creative indoor set.

Once they’d got to grips with the technology, the film makers were given the opportunity to direct and film a short movie ‘on location’ in Pinewood’s sculpted gardens, which have been captured in films such as the James Bond classic From Russia With Love. The group were able to review their efforts later in the afternoon when their films were ‘brought to life’ on Pinewood’s 3D cinema screen.

Sophie Lester, 16, who won best fiction film (14-16 year olds category) at the Film Nation: Shorts Awards ceremony, commented: “Today has been a very special experience. I’ve grown up hearing about Pinewood Studios and its contribution to British filmmaking over the last 80 years. It’s an amazing feeling to know that so many famous people have used this facility just as I have today. My favourite part of the experience was the opportunity to shoot a film in 3D. I couldn’t believe quite how easy the Panasonic 3D camcorders were to use, even for a relative beginner like me. Watching my film on the 3D screen afterwards was a brilliant end to the day.”

Ralph Higson, Director of Panasonic UK’s London 2012 Olympic Program, said: “We are delighted to be presenting partner of the Film Nation: Shorts project which helps support and encourage aspiring young filmmakers. The talented youngsters that won their respective categories at the recent Film Nation: Shorts Award ceremony thoroughly deserved a special prize, and Panasonic is delighted that we are able to facilitate this trip to Pinewood Studios. We hope that they have enjoyed their day and feel inspired by their 3D masterclass to continue creating films in the lead-up to London 2012.”

For more information about Film Nation: Shorts please visit www.filmnation.org.uk.