First Cut Youth Film Festival 2.99

First Cut! Youth Film Project & Festival comprises of a rolling programme of workshops, summer schools and film screening events for young people and sets out to involve young people enjoyably in the arts; build their confidence and skills, enhance their personal development and promote their social inclusion in the wider community.

A Filmmaking Workshop Programme has been developed with 1, 2 day and week-long workshops in both digital film making and animation. Summer Film Weeks have been run since 2008, with two taking place, in Midleton & Carrigaline, in 2009.
Two day Easter Workshops have taken place in 5 centres since 2011. Through the First Draft annual Short Story/Script Competition First Cut! young writers to submit their short stories to be adapted for the screen at the First Cut! Summer Film Week.

In 2012 we can see clearly the benefits of introducing a planned progression route for young filmmakers, from a variety of backgrounds and with differing abilities. The introduction of Animation training, also at this new level, taking place in central locations, brings young people on another journey, away from their original groups of friends and together in new groups of young filmmakers from a broader geographical area.

The annual First Cut! Summer Film Week, a 5 day programme for 20 young people, aged 13-20, is designed to provide a progression route for aspiring young filmmakers giving them access to professional filmmakers &equipment otherwise not available to them, bringing them together to work in teams, develop skills and confidence. In weeks prior to the Summer Week we make contact with youth projects, clubs, Youthreach etc, who are given priority information and access to places on the programme. The programme includes the following: introduction, ice breaking, story/script analysis, art direction, pre-production, roles, camerawork, acting for film, directing, lighting, shooting & editing. All programmes are evaluated.

Some feedback from participants:
“I had so much fun this week… was inspiring for me; meeting people, camera work, being in the actor business and editing... having the trust of the instructors and use of equipment was brilliant. It was a great week….Amazing...would do it again in a heartbeat”