The programme for EIFF Youth Hub 2017 is now live. Taking place from 23-26 June, EIFF Youth Hub will see teens from across the UK converge on Edinburgh for the Festival’s free programme of filmmaker masterclasses, workshops and careers advice for 15 - 25 year olds.
Based at the Lyceum Rehearsal Space at 30b Grindlay Street, EIFF Youth Hub enables young people to meet and learn from experienced industry professionals and visiting filmmakers. Highlights this year include a special In Person with Ewen Bremner (Wonder Woman, Trainspotting) on Friday 23 June, a presentation from Disney∙Pixar’s Head of Story, Scott Morse (Cars 3), and masterclasses with Oscar® nominated cinematographer and EIFF patron Seamus McGarvey (Nocturnal Animals, Life, The Avengers), EIFF Screenwriter in Residence Krysty Wilson-Cairns (Penny Dreadful, Fink), VFX Animator Steve McDermott (Mulan, Lilo and Stitch, The Emperor’s New Groove) and Dominik Platen from the BAFTA-winning VFX company One of Us. Dominik has worked on Life, The Crown, Assassin's Creed and most recently King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
For aspiring actors EIFF Youth Hub offers a session with casting director Orla O’Connor (Shetland, Eve, Mountain Goats) on Saturday 24 June. With a strong emphasis on promoting career and training opportunities for young people, Saturday will also offer an insightful careers surgery with EIFF filmmakers and industry experts, as well as a seminar on how to be a runner with Linda Fraser (Hit the Ground Running).
With a focus on promoting careers in visual effects, game design and digital animation, Sunday 25 June will offer a dedicated careers advice session, VR and 3D game demonstrations with students from Abertay and Napier University, and masterclasses with industry professionals.
All ages can discover more about the various strands of EIFF and current issues in filmmaking through the Festival’s programme of free talks and discussions taking place throughout the Festival and delivered by leading academics from Edinburgh, St Andrews and Stirling Universities. Picking up on the themes in the EIFF programme, these events aim to spark debate and enrich the film going experience for all. Subjects covered include; New Directions in Science-Fiction Cinema, European Crime Cinema and a brief survey of post-war Polish cinema. Behind the Curtain: 70 Years of EIFF will see former EIFF Director Jim Hickey sharing some of his memories of the Festival and DocSalon: Documentary in the Age of Fake News will present the opportunity for the public to join in the debate alongside academics and filmmakers. Supported by Wellcome, What is Comedy For? will look into the neuroscience behind why we laugh, whilst Gameopocalypse will explores the evolving digital world.
For a more formal course, the Festival works with the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Open Learning to produce the Insight into EIFF course which runs 21 – 30 June.
A dedicated Student Critics Training Programme will also run throughout the Festival. Supported by James & Morag Anderson, the programme will see 10 student critics from across Scotland, England and Poland attend the Festival between 21 - 26 June, to watch press screenings, write reviews and attend networking events, as well as receiving mentoring from professional film journalists.
This year’s professional mentors are Nick James (Editor of Sight & Sound) and Simran Hans (The Observer, Bechdel Test Fest) and, in recognition of our festival focus on Poland, Polish film critic Mariola Wiktor (Dziennik.pl, Film&TV Kamera).
This year’s EIFF Student Critics are:
- Adrianna Smyk (University of Warsaw)
- Dominic Bannister (Oaklands College, St Albans)
- Elizabeth Dexter (Kings College London)
- Grace Hall (Queen Margaret University)
- Joanna Krygier (Jagiellonian Univeristy)
- Patrick Dalziel (Edinburgh Napier)
- Ross Gallacher (University of Strathclyde)
- Theo Rollason (University of Edinburgh)
- Laura Hancock (University of York)
- Lewis Johnston-Watt (University of St Andrews)
EIFF is being supported by Wellcome to offer the Youth Hub Filmmaking Competition, challenging young people to create a short film with a scientific theme in one week. Submitted films will be screened during EIFF and have a chance to win cash prizes , with £300 awarded as the 1st prize.
To attend EIFF Youth Hub events participants will need to register for a £5 Youth Hub Pass. This pass provides free access to all EIFF Youth Hub events in addition to giving access to £5 discounted tickets for the majority of EIFF films. EIFF is committed to encouraging young people to engage with diverse types of cinema, as well as encouraging young filmmaking talent.
The programme is aimed at young people who want to learn more about the process of filmmaking or work towards a career in the industry. With various networking and training opportunities Youth Hub aims to help young people widen their network and get their foot in the door.
EIFF Youth Hub activities include participation by Disney•Pixar, One of Us, Creative Skillset, BBC Scotland, Axis Animation, Edinburgh Napier University, Abertay University, Animation Centrifuge, Hit the Ground Running, Scottish Documentary Institute, Gibbet FX and Buzludzha VR.
EIFF Education events are supported by James and Morag Anderson, Wellcome, Cairn Energy, Aberbrothock Skea Trust, Alexander Moncur Trust, Mickel Fund, Russell Trust, Turtleton Charitable Trust.
Follow EIFF Youth Hub on Facebook (EdFilmFestYouthHub), Twitter (@eiffyouthhub) and Instagram (EIFFYouthHub). For more information and to register for Youth Hub passes see here. To find our more about the Youth Hub Filmmaking Competition see here.
The 71st edition of EIFF runs from 21 June - 2 July, 2017.