First Cut! Youth Film Festival, the annual four-day event dedicated to showcasing new films by young filmmakers, has received a record number of submissions from across Ireland and internationally ahead of the festival which takes place next month in the Regal Cinema in Youghal. 

Now in its 11th year, the competition invited young people between the ages of 12-24 to submit their short films for consideration.

Over 100 films have now been selected to be screened in Youghal from March 11-14.

Commenting ahead of the festival, Max Le Cain, Head Programmer of First Cut! lauded the calibre of entrants.

"Each year, the talent gets better and better which is hugely encouraging to see; and even more so because of the record number of submissions we received this year," he said. 

On Saturday, March 14, there will be a number of special events, which the public are welcome to attend free of charge. 

They include the screening of a programme of short films curated by Cork Film Festival from its 2019 programme. 

A special award titled 'Cork Film Festival Award' will be presented to an outstanding young filmmaker from the 18-24 age category who is screening at First Cut. 

The winning film will be automatically submitted for consideration for the 65th Cork Film Festival.

The festival also received a significant number of submissions for the YMVC – Youth Music Video Competition. 

This saw the selection of five emerging directors earlier this year to go on and create a music video for an up and coming Irish act under the mentorship of noted director, Brendan Canty. 

Each director is currently receiving mentorship from Brendan and both the Irish Film and Television award-winning director T.J. O'Grady-Peyton and past YMVC winner, Lochlainn McKenna, who recently directed Westlife's 'Better Man'.

Each of the five resulting music videos will be screened at the festival.

For further information on First Cut Youth Film Festival and to see the full programme of events, visit http://firstcutfilmfestival.com/