First Cut! Youth Film Festival seeks short film entries by filmmakers aged12-24
Deadline: Wednesday February 28th
Festival dates: Wed April 25th – Sat April 28th 2018
Venue: Mall Arts Centre, Youghal Co. Cork
Admission: Free
First Cut! Youth Film Festival is now accepting short film submissions for its 2018 edition.
This annual festival is dedicated to showcasing new films by young filmmakers. Now in its ninth year, it offers screenings, workshops, and talks by film industry professionals in a friendly atmosphere where young filmmakers can meet and mingle with their peers. It is based at the Mall Arts Centre in Youghal, Co. Cork and will run between April 25th and 28th 2018.
The call-out for short films is aimed at filmmakers between the ages of 12 and 24. It is open to films from schools, colleges, youth groups and individual filmmakers. Entries are welcomed from Ireland and abroad in every genre, including fiction, documentary, animation and music video. The closing date is Wednesday February 28th. Full details on how to submit a film are online at firstcutfilmfestival.com
The 2017 edition of the festival screened over 125 short films. It featured a public workshop by The Young Offenders writer/director Peter Foott, who remarked “I wish First Cut! was around when I was a young filmmaker… It’s such a great platform for young filmmakers to get their films seen.”
Awards are presented in a several categories, including best film, best director, best schools film, best animation, best documentary, best music video and best film by a young adult. This year, First Cut! is introducing the First Cut! Youth Jury Award to be selected by its youth volunteer committee.
Due to its ongoing success, First Cut! Youth Film Festival will be expanding from a three- to a four-day event this year. In addition to providing young filmmakers with a platform to show their films and to learn from industry professionals, it offers a rare and valuable opportunity for them to network and share their passion for making films with a wide group of likeminded people. Each screening is accompanied by a panel discussion with young filmmakers where young people can share their experiences and take inspiration from their peers.
Festival director Mary McGrath explains “We are in the business of encouraging and supporting young filmmakers and giving them much needed opportunities to showcase their films. It is so inspiring to have had the involvement of really talented and successful directors of the caliber of Nora Twomey (Breadwinner), Peter Foott (The Young Offenders) and Brendan Canty, (Hozier- ‘Take Me To Church’/ ‘For You’). It feels like we are at the cutting edge of film making in Ireland and bringing this to young aspiring filmmakers. We are delighted to be working with so many great partners and to welcome so many successful directors, and young film makers to Youghal.”
First Cut! Youth Film Festival is also running the incredibly successful Youth Music Video Competition (YMVC) for a third year, teaming up with production company Feel Good Lost and its director Brendan Canty to highlight music video and give young filmmakers an amazing opportunity to be mentored by professional filmmakers associated with Feel Good Lost. Full details of YMVC 2018 will be announced in shortly. Young filmmakers interested in putting themselves forward for one of the five places on this year’s YMVC can contact First Cut! at firstcutfilm@gmail.com
All events and screenings at the festival are free and open to the public.
https://filmireland.net/2018/01/05/festivals-funding-schemes-deadlines-2015/
