Bookings now open for the first National Youth Film Festival
Free screenings of foreign language films to inspire young people
From Therese Desqyeyroux to Wadjda, 
from Clara and the Secret of the Bears to AninA, over 30 foreign films in languages including French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Arabic and Hindi will be on offer at the first National Youth Film Festival, taking place from 21 Oct – 08 Nov 2013.
This groundbreaking new Festival is free to school groups all over the UK and offers young people aged 5-19 the chance to enjoy a wide variety of films, learn about film-making and meet film industry professionals. Linked to a packed programme of over 1600 free screenings, Q&A’s, workshops and events are over 100 teaching resources, including several related to the curriculum, to enable teachers to use screenings to bring learning to life, develop review writing and critical skills, or teach pupils about film and filmmaking. These range from a Beginner’s Guide to French Movies, to teaching ideas for, and guides to, individual films to encourage post-screening discussions and continued work back in the classroom.
Click here for full details of festival events, and to book free tickets and access resources.
The programme will have a strong emphasis on young people and film-making, with short films made by young people shown at every screening during the festival, and programming by young people to highlight films that have particularly resonated with a young audience. Filmmaking workshops, competitions and awards will be offered giving young people the opportunity to showcase and develop their skills. NYFF has also produced a free, downloadable In-school Festivals ‘how to’ guide to encourage schools to run their own mini festival.
The festival will provide young people from all backgrounds with the opportunity to engage with film in challenging ways including those in disadvantaged areas who may not otherwise have access to cultural experiences. Research by the Tom Fleming Consultancy shows that film in the classroom can be a highly effective educational tool, improving literacy and communication skills, broadening cultural horizons and engaging isolated pupils. 87 % of teachers also say it increases the enjoyment of learning, and the ability to share and debate with others.
The National Youth Film Festival will take place annually in venues throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with 407 cinemas confirmed to take part this year, screening over 130 films. Continuing on the success of National Schools Film Week, the Festival is aimed at schools and colleges and tickets can be booked free of charge by teachers. It is delivered by FILM NATION UK and supported by the TES and UK wide film industry including BFI, Cinema First and RealD 3D.
Highlights from the 2013 festival programme will include:
- A premiere of British drama The Selfish Giant (for secondary
schools) and gala previews such as Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 3D (for primary schools). - Over 1600 screenings and events including recent releases such as The Bling Ring, Wadjda and Monsters University, foreign language films such as Therese Desqueyroux and La Belle et La Bete, classic titles including Oliver! and Peter Pan, and silent movies. Every film has been curated for its own educational value and has teaching resources attached to enhance the film going experience and develop learning.
- Q&A’s, workshops and masterclasses in which industry experts will share their experiences and knowledge, with speakers ranging from Peter Lord (Co-founder & Director at Aardman Animation) to an underwater cameraman, costume designer and acting talent.
- Childhood favourites – the favourite childhood films of the stars, including Dame Helen Mirren (Cinderella), Guillermo Del Torro (Frankenstein) and Stanley Tucci (Oliver!) will be screened including a short piece from each on their choice.
- Charity involvement – Friends of the Earth, Oxfam, Stonewall and Save The Children are involved in post screening discussions about relevant and topical issues such as climate change, sexuality and the environment.
schools) and gala previews such as Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 3D (for primary schools).The National Youth Film Festival forms a key element of a new four-year programme funded by the BFI and Cinema First for watching, making and learning about film, which will be available to every child and school in the UK and will be delivered by FILM NATION UK, a new organisation, that builds on the work of two leading film education charities, FILMCLUB and First Light. The BFI is investing £26 million of Lottery funds over four years – the largest investment in film education ever seen in this country – so that every five to 19 year-old in the UK has the opportunity to receive film education through the bold new programme of activity and representing for the first time ever a single unified programme for watching, making and learning about film. FILM NATION UK’s activity will deliver a rich cultural and educational relationship with film available in cinemas, through initiatives like the new National Youth Film Festival, at after school film clubs and a new digital platform to not only provide interaction with multiple audiences but also allow every young person, school and youth group access to a rich resource bank and body of support. FILM NATION UK enjoys the additional support of the film industry through funding from Cinema First – the exhibitor and distributors’ industry body that values the role of film education in developing a new audience for cinema.