YouthAction Northern Ireland and UK Youth launch Film for Youth

World famous film director, Guy Ritchie, in conjunction with youth work charities YouthAction Northern Ireland and UK Youth, is launching a new film-making festival ‘Film for Youth’ in London today, challenging young people to make a film that reflects their lives, aspirations and concerns.
Premiere screenings of the UK entries will be showcased as part of the Urban Arts Academy courtesy of the acclaimed Belfast Waterfront in July 2006 where an awards ceremony celebrating the best entries will be hosted. There will also be a series of film-making master classes led by Guy Ritchie and other film experts. Shortlisted participants will be invited to attend a residential film-making week with workshops and screenings in Northern Ireland.
Other events include an invitation-only VIP party for festival supporters as part of the Premiere evening, in addition to a year-long programme of web streaming, DVD distribution and screenings around the UK to connect audiences to inspirational, independent and youth-led short films.
Ritchie said: “When I got into film-making it changed my life and gave me real direction. With UK Youth I want to offer young people the chances that film-making offered me. This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get involved in film-making, learn new skills and express themselves.”
Entries will be judged by a panel comprising experts from the arts, media, education, sponsors and young people, who will select the best entries in each category for final viewing. Final selection will take place by a panel of film industry experts chaired by Guy Ritchie.
Young people (aged 12-15 years and 16-25 years) are invited to submit short films on the theme of ‘Youth’ that they have produced in any of the following four categories: Documentary; Comedy; Drama; and Animation.
Entries can be made by individuals or by groups (max 5 per group). Films must be no shorter than two minutes and no longer than six minutes. In order to take part in Film for Youth 2006 young people need to register their interest. Once registered, they will receive a free DVD of Guy Ritchie’s exclusive guide to producing a short film and an invitation to a film-making workshop hosted by YouthAction Northern Ireland.
June Trimble MBE, Director of YouthAction Northern Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a world-renowned film director as Guy Ritchie.
“As a charity we very much appreciate Guy’s voluntary contribution to a very exciting project.
“Film for Youth gives us an excellent platform to provide young people with the opportunity to develop their individual creative skills through film-making and perhaps produce some potential film-makers of the future. I would encourage young people throughout Northern Ireland to get involved and am delighted that local young people will be hosting a UK wide event here in Belfast. I would like to thank the Waterfront for supporting Film for Youth by kindly partnering with us for this premiere event.”
The festival is presented by Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company.
Nigel Smith, Partner, Accenture said: “Film for Youth is a fantastic initiative that we are proud to support. It will provide young people with an opportunity to express their views and demonstrate their creativity.”
(GB)