Young Filmmakers Portray Their City
Throughout this project young people from three European cities, Bytom (Poland), Belfast (Northern Ireland) and Lovetch (Bulgaria) socially and artistically explored their cities through the medium of film. The project culminated in a summer film camp in Belfast in 2022 which brought all the young people together to work collaboratively on three creative film projects.
You can view the films created as part of the project below.
As part of the project we have created two toolkits in order to support community, arts or cultural groups to implement similar social and artistic projects.
To download Toolkit 1 follow this link
Please note - the associated films in this guide can be found in the "Films" section of the website (you will need to create an account/login to access this).
The second part of the toolkit is devoted to creative partnerships, how to establish them and how to conduct them in a way that satisfies all parties. It includes a number of recommendations collected after the pilot edition of the project and contains interviews with partners invited to local projects - representatives of schools, museums, libraries, community centres and cultural organisations.
To download Toolkit 2 follow this link
Below you will also find links to video production tutorials created by our Polish partners (you may need to turn English subtitles on).
Young Filmmakers Portraying Our City - Belfast
This film was made by students from Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School and explores the Ormeau Road area of Belfast. Special thanks to Ballynafeigh Community Development Association and NI Screen Digital Film Archive.
YOUNG FILMMAKERS PORTRAYING OUR CITY - POLAND
This video was created by young people from Bytom in Poland.
YOUNG FILMMAKERS PORTRAYING OUR CITY - BULGARIA
This film was made by young people from Lovetch in Bulgaria.
Shortcut Summer Film School
In August 2022 young people from Bytom (Poland), Belfast (Northern Ireland) and Lovetch (Bulgaria) came together in Belfast as part of the Shortcut Summer Film Camp. The films below were created collaboratively by the young people during the intensive 4 day programme. Films were structured around the idea of beginning with sound and field recording, resulting in interesting and varied creative responses.
Shortcut Film Camp - "Hear Belfast"
Shortcut Film Camp - "Contrast"
Shortcut Film Camp - "Bellfast"
Shortcut Renewal Films
Funded by NI Screen through the Department of Communities' Renewal Programme the Shortcut Renewal Film project has given the opportunity for six different groups of disadvantaged or hard to reach young people to have a voice through film.
Working closely with an experienced filmmaker each group has made a short film on a topic relevant to their world.
The films are a unique insight to these young people, their worlds and the chance to voice the issues and topics affecting their lives.
LITTLE VOICES
'Little Voices' is an animated documentary inspired by the films of the Shortcut Film Education Programme. The characters made by the young people are synced to these teenagers' recorded zoom conversations with us, as they navigate the January - March 2021 lockdown, voicing how it has affected them and the struggles they faced during this difficult time.
Little Voices
Film by Armagh EpiCentre - EA Picture This Youth Group - EA Youth Leader Briegeen Corr.
Little Voices is an Animated Documentary. Directed by Rachel Hynds and Animated by Colm McKenna.
"Little Voices" was selected as semi-finalist in the International Cosmopolitan Film Festival of Tokyo 2022 (formerly Toronto Independent Animation Film Film Festival).
OVERLOOKED
Five young people from Rathcoole's NACN Coole Studios have been guided and mentored on this documentary film by writer and director Cornelius Walker. The subject of their documentary is Kelly Honan a mum of a 14 year autistic girl Lilly, Lilly has not been to school in 5 years. The documentary tells Lilly’s story through her mum Kelly who has faced great adversity with getting any help or support for Lilly and feels continually overlooked by those who she thought were there to help.
Overlooked
Film by NACN Coole Studios, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey - Youth Leader Dee Crooks.
Mentoring Director Cornelius Walker, Director Sharron Currie, DOP Ross McClean, Editor Conall Melarkey
OVERLOOKED BTS FILM
The young people chat about the entire film making process. Film created & edited by Kyle Hechanova
2 DAYS IN NEWTOWNHAMILTON
These young people have gathered voices from their village, with particular focus on the Bulgarian community in Newtownhamilton.
2 DAYS IN NEWTOWNHAMILTON
Film by Newtownhamilton Youth Group - Youth Leader Joe Conere, EA Youth Leader- Ryan Crilly.
Director, DOP and Editor Michael MacBroom
AUDIO ADAPTER
What’s it like to be a performer without an audience? The COVID-19 pandemic threw the development and career trajectory of many local artists into complete disarray. It’s well known that music has always been an essential lifeblood to this City and with the complete closure of many venues, and mixed messages about the potential to re-open, it created a uniquely difficult climate for musicians. So how did a number of performers from the North West deal with it? With an abundance of resilience, determination, innovation and a full smattering of Derry humour.
AUDIO ADAPTOR
Film by Ones to Watch Young Programmers group, Nerve Centre, Derry.
Director & Editor Fiachra O'Longain
Audio Adaptor BTS
THE FACTORY
"The Factory" is a short drama piece that explores the consequences of both inaction and conscious wrongdoing. Set in the year 2030, the predicted year in which climate change may be irreversible (if the correct responses aren't considered), the film was devised by students of St. Joe's Boys' School in Derry. The development of their ideas were workshopped with professional filmmakers on one school day, with the film being shot the very next day.
THE FACTORY
Film by St Joseph's Boys School, Derry
The Factory, Producer Rachel McDermott, Director & Editor Conall Melarkey, Camera Michael McWilliams & Conall Melarkey
A PLACE APART
Film by Camphill Community, Glencraig Young People, Seahill, Co. Down
A Place Apart, Director, DOP and Editor Sharron Currie, Sound Production Aidan Deery
The young people from Camphill Glencraig community live on the shores of Belfast lough. They live in this unique community with their parents sharing a home with up to six adults with many different special needs. The film will glimpse into the special relationship they have with each other, as well as a voice about their lives and an opportunity for conversations on environmental issues concerning them.
Currently in post production.
"MAKING SPACE" PODCAST
As part of the Nerve Centre's Spring Into Creativity Month, members of one our new Shortcut Renewal Film Production teams met to record this Podcast.
'Making Space' is a podcast series bringing together different perspectives and experiences from the creative industries in Northern Ireland and beyond.
In this episode, co-founders of Space Rice Studios, Kyle Hechanova & Gaigai Xie, meet Oscar-nominated director Cornelius Walker to talk about filmmaking, the importance of loving what you do, and their shared experience of racism in the screen industry.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
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