Photo: Deputy Mayor Cllr Kirsti Wenn (c), makers of Zauberschau (l) and makers of Jeff and Hamster (r)
German Short Film Competition for Schools 2026
We are delighted to congratulate the winners and runners up in our 2026 German Short Film Competition for Schools. All the entrants merit thanks and recognition for their enthusiastic response to our first challenge of this kind, which was open to students in their second year of learning German at schools in Harpenden and St Albans with German on their curriculum. Three members of the Friends of Alzey acted as independent judges; a native speaker, a current teacher of French and German ( including film) in a secondary school and an author on German affairs. We are very grateful to them for giving their time and expertise freely.
The title / theme was: Darf ich ……..vorstellen - May I introduce…
Winners : a pair of students from year 8 at Roundwood Park School in Harpenden whose film Jeff
featured action scenes around the town and was liked by the judges for its funny script and humorous, playful use of the German language
. They added, it made us all wish to have a Jeff in our lives, too!
Runner up : one year 9 student at Sandringham School in St Albans introduced his Hamster as if via CCTV or a wildlife documentary in voice off style with an arthouse feel and impressive use of German.
Runners up : a team of three from year 8 at Roundwood Park School in Harpenden created a Zauberschau ( magic show) , a film full of magic tricks, effects and funny camera spins. The judges liked the actors' natural approach, and found their enthusiasm for the German language contagious.
School with the best overall contribution to the competition: Sir John Lawes School in Harpenden. See the picture to the right showing Susanna Leaver of Sir John Lawes school receiving a certificate from the Deputy Mayor.
The winning film makers all received a Waterstones gift card and framed certificate at our celebratory Awards Ceremony which was kindly hosted by Harpenden Town Council in its Chamber on March 23rd. Deputy Mayor Cllr Kirsti Wenn presented the prizes in front of an audience comprising students, teachers, family members and Friends of Alzey together with the three members of its Education sub group. This group launched the competition in order to encourage and support the learning of German language in our local area and promote our town twinning activities and the beautiful twin town of Alzey.
View the Winning Film - Jeff
The Education sub group are indebted to Guildford Twinning Association who kindly shared their experience of running a film competition for schools.