Preview Leeds Young People's Film Festival
Sophie Kemp looks ahead to the festival's return, now in its 11th year and with a more environmental agenda
Preview: Leeds Young People's Film Festival
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As a perfect excuse to get out of the house during the Easter holiday, Leeds Young People’s Film Festival returns for its 11th year with the brand new film adaptation of Cressida Cowell’s best selling children’s novel How to Train Your Dragon, a Harry Potter special and several topical environmental films, catering for all film fanatics aged between 0 to 19 and beyond at Leeds’ cinematic hub, Hyde Park Picture House.
A staple in the film diet of any young Leeds-based film fan, the festival annually brings together the best in new films for youngsters and the best in short films by young movie makers, not to mention playing host to the award ceremony for the 7th National Young Filmmaker’s Award. In collaboration with Leeds Film Academy workshops, the award takes submissions in the form of 10 minute shorts in any genre by budding young film makers under 19 - the winner will take away £250 to help fund their next project.
How to Train Your Dragon opens the festivities with the author present as a special guest. The 2003 bestseller focuses on the adventures of a teenage would-be Viking warrior called Hiccup and his dragon Toothless, his sworn enemy that he ends up befriending. Further special guests include Chris Rankin, otherwise known as Percy Weasley, who will be available to meet fans at the back to back screening of the first four Harry Potter films, a perfect excuse to indulge a little as prizes will be given for the best dressed wizards, as well as a catch up prior to the release of the final instalment at the end of this year.
From saving dragons to saving the planet: further events include Eco-day featuring a range of films, talks and presentations from the Energy Saving Trust, Friends of the Earth, and the Environmental Office, all geared at helping young film fans and their families protect the environment. The films include 2008’s Mia and the Migoo, winner of the recently created European Film Award for Best Animated Feature, a modern fairytale animation where a young girl discovers unusual forces at work in a threatened forest, and Garbage Dreams, a documentary following teenage boys who work as garbage collectors in a poor suburb of Cairo where the inhabitants live surrounded by islands of rubbish. Winner of the 2009 Al Gore Reel Current Award, Garbage Dreams premiered at SXSW.
29 March to 9 April, Hyde Park Picture House, Brudenell Road, LS6 1JD. For more information, visit www.leedsyoungfilm.co.uk and www.hydeparkpicturehouse.co.uk
Posted on Monday 1st March 2010
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