Film festival celebrates talent and energy of young people in Cork

FIRST Cut Youth Film Festival is a unique event for young people, firmly rooted in Youghal.

Since 2014 it has grown in reputation nationally and internationally, bringing almost 2000 young filmmakers with cast and crew and groups of young people from schools, colleges and youth groups to East Cork each March over six days.

The festival is recognised for its uniqueness in the youth film landscape, employing an ambitious and innovative approach to celebrating youth films and animation. It creates a much-needed showcase for the talent of new and emerging Irish and international young filmmakers.

This is a vibrant festival, bursting with the energy and creativity of the 12–25-year-olds who get a platform to screen their short films.

The festival is a valuable opportunity for young filmmakers to network and share their passion for making films with a group of like-minded people in an enjoyable and supportive environment and to take part in film workshops and discussion panels led by film experts working in the industry. All events are free.

This year, all screenings and talks will take place in the beautifully restored art deco Regal Cinema in Youghal, a town which itself is steeped in a rich film history. The professional well-curated festival program ensures diverse voices and identities are represented through film, panels, workshops, networking, and mentoring opportunities.

It is a positive story centred around young people and their interest in being creative.

Who would have thought back in 2006 when all this started, with just five film-making workshops for young people in East Cork, that in 2024 we would have grown to have established Cork Young Filmmakers, a countywide youth arts programme providing 30+ workshops for about 400 young people each year, and First Cut Youth Film Festival, an annual 6-day international youth film festival happening in Youghal!

The support from all our funders, sponsors and the Youghal Community has enabled all this to happen. None of it could happen without young people whose talent and energy drive the festival forward.

An experienced core team work hard to bring together all the films, people and events both in the lead-in and at the festival itself to create this special gathering for filmmakers and those who want to learn more. First Cut has an excellent track record with the capacity to deliver an exciting events year after year and always with some surprises for our audiences.

We are very excited for the 2024 First Cut Youth Film Festival starting on Monday March 4, in Youghal, for its 15th iteration.

Once again, in what can only be described as an astonishing range of events and of entertaining, though provoking and insightful beautifully made shorts from emerging young filmmakers aged 12-25, all available free of charge over six days. This year’s programme, now on our website, is packed with an impressive line-up of screenings, workshops, and talks by film industry professionals.

The festival kicks off, as always, with Animation. It’s really important to us that we start with our youngest filmmakers and audiences. Animation projects can play a key role in supporting the development of essential transferable skills among your pupils. Applicable right across the academic curriculum, it’s not only a fun and engaging activity but it can also make a real difference to a young person’s learning journey.

Animania! A Day at the Movies for primary schools takes place today and tomorrow, Monday March 4 and 5. A Day at the Movies showcases animations made by over 300 young people from schools in Youghal and Midleton. Hands-on workshops take place in advance of the festival The Animania! Programme is Sponsored in the main by Cork County Council & Youghal Credit Union.

This year Athrú Amháin has developed to three-part celebration of filmmaking in the Irish language! Athrú Amháin!/One Change! First Cut’s first filmmaking through Irish competition, with the urgent topic of climate change as its theme. returns followed by a diverse programme of shorts in Irish from the First Cut Open Call. 

The event is rounded out with a special screening of Irish language films from the production company Nemeton, based nearby in An Rinn.

For the first time in conjunction with the Cork International Film Festival, we bring a film and mental health programme for Transition Year Students which gives young people the opportunity to explore mental health and well being through film, Q and A’s with filmmakers and attending workshops led by youth mental health specialists.

Everyone is keen to see Spotlight, First Cut’s Open Call programme celebrating the vision of emerging filmmakers of third level age. Some are in film courses; some are working independently but all are significant upcoming talents to watch out for in the future.

Brand new to our festival programme is Different Frames, a first time focus on experimental film, bringing together a distinguished panel of filmmakers and curators to explore the boundless possibilities of alternative forms of filmmaking from distinctive points of view. Be prepared for an eye-opening panel!

Also new this year is “Future Lens: New Technologies and Immersive Storytelling with Virtual Reality (VR)”. In the festival lead-in a workshop with leading artist Andrew McSweeney was designed to encourage young creatives with a shared interest in filmmaking, environmental advocacy and new technologies to experiment with new and exciting digital tools.

The collective efforts of workshop participants will culminate in one exciting masterpiece! 

Their creations – 3D models, videos, images, and sound pieces—will seamlessly blend into an awe-inspiring VR experience. On Saturday March 9 the festival will showcase this collaborative effort, presenting a mesmerising piece of storytelling, innovation, and artistic expression. The artist and filmmakers will be there to share their learning!

Don’t miss the Awards Ceremony in The Regal on Saturday, March 9 at 8pm!

As you can imagine, these are just tasters of what is on offer!

For more information on all festival events please check out our website: www.firstcutfilmfestival.com