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In October 2018, freelance filmmaker and keen conservationist, Harry Percy, attended a Born Free event in London, where he met Born Free CEO Howard Jones and shared his ambitions to visit Africa to film the work of the international wildlife charity. Just days later, Harry tragically passed away unexpectedly. He was only 22 years old.
Aware of their son's desire to work in conservation, Harry's parents Tim Percy and Dominique de Bellefroid contacted Born Free with the idea of launching the annual Harry Percy Award for young wildlife filmmakers, to honour Harry's memory.
We are raising funds to launch this exciting new annual competition which will offer young film industry amateurs and professionals the chance to produce high profile new work and win a career-boosting cash prize, whilst helping to support Born Free's mission to Keep Wildlife in the Wild.
We are delighted that acclaimed wildlife filmmaker and presenter, Gordon Buchannan, is supporting this award and will be part of the judging panel to select the winning film.
Gordon says:
"The Harry Percy Award is a unique new opportunity to support young people starting out in the wildlife film industry and I am very much looking forward to seeing the exciting work being produced. Money raised through this campaign will enable us to launch this important award and raise awareness of Born Frees vital conservation work. It is a fitting tribute for a remarkable and talented young man who had a promising career in filmmaking ahead of him."
Full details about the Harry Percy Award are available at www.bornfree.org.uk/harry-percy-award
Remembering Harry Percy, 1995-2018
By his father, Tim Percy
Ever inquisitive even as a small boy, Harry was very much in touch with nature. But it was his sensitivity and kindness to others that transcended everything; he could never stand by to see a friend unhappy or sad, and was instantly there to give that rare gift of human comfort and warmth.
Photography was a passion he discovered early on, and led him to the career he eventually chose. There was something about his ability to see the image where others could not, his identity with the beauty of shape, of colour, of wilderness, how they came together in that perfect image, and life itself. He loved to be behind the camera, but he equally loved the medium of film.
Harry would be so unbelievably proud to know that something positive was being done in his name and memory. More than that, the help that will be given to another person to carry the message forward gives the whole concept even deeper meaning. If through Harry's passion for film, conservation, and life, we can better educate people about the need to conserve the environment, then we will have achieved something, and we know that we will forever see his smile
By his mother, Dominique de Bellefroid
Harry was passionate about conservation, nature, the outdoors, and helping humanity and the animal kingdom through his photography and film work.
He marvelled so much at the beauty of nature, that when he was a child, he would spend hours looking at small flowers, insects, fish and other creatures, climbing trees and lying in fields gazing at the clouds passing relentlessly through the sky. Later on, he couldn't resist photographing it and then filming it, which for him was a way to share the beauty he saw.
We hope to keep Harry's memory alive through this award. To give an incentive, through Harry's example of determination and passion, to other young people - that they too can make a difference and use their voice and their talent to be the ambassadors of our most precious gift: nature in all its diversity.
Harry's family and Born Free would like to thank you in advance for your support.
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