Leeds Young People's Film Festival

Leeds Young People's Film Festival is a part of Leeds City Council's City Development Department.  The Festival creates and sustains opportunities for young people, from the ages of 3 to 19 years of age, to develop their creativity and education through exploration of the moving image and interactive arts, from greater access to international film culture to experience of filmmaking, career development and showcasing.

This includes several year-round programmes, including Film Academy, a year-long, Arts Award accredited moving image programme for 12-15 year olds who are under achieving at school and are at risk of social exclusion. It consists of film screenings and related activities such as filmmaking and moving image masterclasses and workshops led by professionals working in the industry. Film Academy provides a chance to re-engage with learning opportunities with inspiration to participation in hands-on activities which are then measured in a way that celebrates individual creative progress and not just skill.

LYPFF has also set up a new project MediaFish, a cooperative of young people that is facilitated by us to run their own film screening and making organisation. They host screenings for other young people twice a month and have regular management meetings and creative sessions, including international Film Festival visits, workshops and master-classes. The aim of the programme is to create a self-sustaining, young people ‘owned’ community organisation which can meet the needs of young people across the city by providing a safe place to go and offering stimulating, empowering activities and skills training.