Programme announced for Glasgow Youth Film Festival's Sweet Sixteen edition

Glasgow Youth Film Festival (GYFF) will return for its 16th edition from Friday 13 to Saturday 15 September, with a packed programme of special screenings and educational events taking place at GFT across the weekend. Each year, the festival is co-programmed by a group of Young Programmers aged 15 to 18, who are mentored through a summer school with the Glasgow Film team. 

An unmatched opportunity for young people with an interest in film, GYFF Young Programmers gain hands-on experience of planning and delivering a three-day festival, learning how festival programming works and having the chance to meet with film industry professionals. Participants can also take part in an optional Participative Democracy Certificate, worth two credits at SCQF Level 5.

The GYFF programme annually presents an outstanding range of international films, with special guest appearances and free-to-attend creative industry events for young people.

This year’s festival will launch with a ‘Sweet Sixteen’ birthday party themed event followed by an Opening Gala screening of Ant Timpson’s heartwarming comedy Bookworm, starring Elijah Wood and Nell Fisher, which recently won the Fantasia audience award for Best International Film. The festival will close with a special event screening of the iconic high school musical Grease. 

New releases will include We Can Be Heroes, a documentary following a group of young teens as they attend a Live Action Role Playing (LARPing) camp; the UK Premiere of Skatergirls - Get Up – Lea Becker’s new film about twin sisters (played by TikTok stars Lena and Lisa Mantler) who enter a skateboarding competition; the Scottish premiere of coming-of-age comedy drama Uproar; and Long-Distance Swimmer: Sara Mardini — a documentary about the Syrian swimmer who pulled the boat that carried her and another 18 refugees to Greece as she faces a possible 25-year prison sentence for her activism.

The Young Programmers have also curated a selection of nostalgic classics to screen across the weekend, including cult hit Clue, which brings the beloved board game Cluedo to life; a free Take 2 family screening of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules; and a Sunday matinee screening of The Truman Show.

GYFF’s popular Behind the Scenes programme will make a welcome return with four free educational events for 15-25 year olds, in association with BFI Film Academy. Niamh McKeown, director of the BBC/Hulu show Dinosaur, will host Directing ‘Dinosaur’: An Anatomy of a Scene, a workshop delving into the process of taking a scene from script to screen as a television director. McKeown will also take part in “Louder on Set!” Film Creatives in Conversation – a panel event with documentary filmmaker Demelza Kooj (Wolves From Above) and other experts sharing their individual paths into the film and TV industry as well as advice for aspiring filmmakers. Cinematographer and film lecturer Andrew Rooke will host Beyond the Lens: Understanding Cinematography, a session exploring the vital role of the cinematographer on film sets. Aspiring filmmakers can also take part in A Day in the Life of a Concept Artist, a session exploring the role of the concept artist in animation.

Allison Gardner, CEO of Glasgow Film, said: ‘The most fun-filled weekend in the GFT calendar, GYFF is the perfect introduction to cinema for film fans of all ages. We are excited and proud to share this celebratory programme for GYFF’s sixteenth birthday, carefully curated by our 17 young programmers who have devoted their summer to planning and delivering our best festival yet.’ 

Nathan, GYFF Young Programmer, said: ‘As a GYFF Young Programmer, my experience at GYFF Summer School has been informative and exciting to be part of. Working with other young people with a shared interest has been great. I’m most excited about welcoming the audience to our screening of Clue. The film isn’t played very often in the cinema nor is it given enough credit. I think this is definitely a must-see opportunity in our programme.’ 

Niamh McKeown, screenwriter and director, said: ‘I loved being part of Behind the Scenes at GYFF because I love meeting aspiring young filmmakers. Young people should come along if they can because it's a great way to learn more about the realities of the film industry and is the perfect place to meet like-minded peers who want to make films.’

Glasgow’s original independent cinema, GFT celebrates its 50th birthday in 2024. Our ‘£50 for 50’ campaign invites supporters to take part in celebrating 50 years of GFT by donating £50. People making donations will become part of GFT’s cinematic history and help shape the next 50 years of independent film. In return, donors will be invited to a special screening in January 2025 and have their support recognised on screen. Find out more and donate at www.glasgowfilm.org/donate 

GFT is operated by Glasgow Film, an educational charity which also runs the award-winning Glasgow Film Festival and Glasgow Youth Film Festival, and is the lead organisation for Film Hub Scotland. GFT is the city’s original independent arthouse cinema and the home of film in Glasgow. Glasgow Youth Film Festival is funded by Creative Scotland, Screen Scotland, Glasgow City Council and BFI Film Academy. Behind the Scenes in association with BFI Film Academy, awarding National Lottery Funding, is delivered by GFT and Eden Court Highlands.