Film Festival in Honor of Murdered Harry Potter Star

An annual festival held in memory of the murdered young Harry Potter star Ron Knox is gearing up for its biggest year ever.
The 18-year-old was killed in May, 2008, in Sidcup, just after he’s finished filming his role as Marcus Belby in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. He had just signed on to be in Deathly Hallows.
Rob died after being stabbed outside a bar when he intervened in a fight to protect his brother Jamie, 17 at the time, from two men, one of whom was armed with a pair of knives.
After his death the Rob Knox Foundation was created to campaign against knife and gun crime and promote citizenship, and all the funds from this film festival will go to the fund.
Organizers are expecting a record number of free entries to the Rob Knox Film Festival 2012 as it continues to grow in reputation after being launched in 2009.
Set up by Festival Director Michael Wearing, from Middle Stoke on the Hoo Peninsular, it aims to raise the profile of positive behavior by young people; provide an opportunity for locally made films to reach a wider audience; give an opportunity for young people to see independent films around the world; offer learning opportunities for young filmmakers; and identify films that tackle social issues or that could be used in an educational context.
There are prizes in eight award categories this year: best film; best director; best screenplay; best actor; best actress; best film under five minutes; best community film tackling a social issue; best 99 per cent film which raises the profile of positive activity by young people.
Last year Edilberto Restino cut short filming in Brazil to collect his award for best director. Previous award winners have attended from USA, Greece and Belgium.
Mr.Wearing said: “It is a local festival aimed at local people especially the young, but we have gained an international reputation.
“We know that filmmakers at all stages of their careers and those just doing it for fun have a desire for their films to be seen by others, and we try to make that happen for as many of them as we can.”
Filmmakers wishing to have their films considered for screening at the festival should email robknoxff@btinternet.com for an entry form.
The festival opens on May 29 at New Generation Church, Sidcup, and ends with the awards night at Cineworld Bexleyheath on June 6.
Rob had been an actor from the age of 11 with some appearances as an extra, and then he got a small part in The Bill. He also appeared in the Channel 4 reality show Trust Me I’m a Teenager, and the BBC comedy After You’ve Gone. His first film was King Arthur in 2004.
Karl Bishop, 25, from Lewisham, was found guilty of murder in February, 2009, and jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years. Police said he showed no remorse.