Glasgow Youth Film Festival today announced its programme for 2015, and has had a radical shake-up to mark its seventh year.
This year most of the child-friendly programming has been integrated into the main Glasgow Film Festival programme Modern Families strand, meaning the festival’s dynamic young programming team – it is the only film event in Europe totally curated by 15-18 year olds – have focussed the festival into an audacious, weekend-long youth cinema showcase. The three-day lineup is a full-on teen takeover, with a jam-packed programme taking in everything from cutting-edge sci-fi premieres, late-night cult classics, a special pop-up closing gala, and a stellar set of films, workshops and events throughout.
As the worldwide film industry remains perpetually fascinated by teenage issues, many of the films in the programme deal with themes of isolation and the pains of growing up. The festival kicks off on Friday 6 February with the Scottish premiere of eerie sci-fi thriller The Signal, which stars Laurence Fishburne and rising star Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel). On Saturday 7 GYFF is delighted to host a special panel event and screening with the cast and crew of hit Channel 4 series Glue.
As 2015 is Glasgow’s Green Year, the GYFF team will take over BAaD (Barras Art and Design) at the famous Barras Market for one night only on Sunday 8 February, turning it into a fantasy wilderness for special themed pop-up screenings of cult favourites Jumanji and Labyrinth. There’ll be a raucous forest-party atmosphere, live bands and food to close out the weekend.
Screenings in between include an ambitious world cinema programme, with German Hitchcockian thriller For No Eyes Only, quirky coming of age drama Supernova, and sleek sci-fi anime Time of Eve, accompanied by GYFF’s now-traditional Cosplay Parade, where young fans of cult TV series, anime and computer games, dress up and role-play as their icons. Look out for the GMAC Film Academy, an event designed to introduce youth audiences to the idea of studying film, as well as workshops with directors and screenwriters designed for aspiring young filmmakers.
PROGRAMME
Opening Gala: The Signal (Scottish Premiere) Fri 6 Feb (20.15), GFT.
Nic, Hailey and Jonah, three MIT students, embark upon on a road trip across America’s southwest. Their mission is to track an elusive computer genius: a hacker known only as Nomad who has managed to expose flaws in the college’s security systems. When they are lured to an isolated area, suddenly everything goes dark. Nic regains consciousness to find himself in a waking nightmare.  An intelligent and mind-bending sci-fi thriller
Late Night Classic: Shaun of the Dead Fri 6 Feb (23.00), GFT
To tie-in with the zombie-movie themed trailer they’ve created, the GYFF team are delighted to put on one of their favourites as a late night classic. Our eponymous hero has been shuffling through life with his layabout best mate Ed and long suffering girlfriend Liz. When a mysterious outbreak makes everyone start acting a bit bitey, it’s up to Shaun to step up, be the hero and impress Liz. Grab your crew, settle in for our GYFF late-night screening and wait for all this to blow over. Preceded by short film Emo (The Musical).
Korso Sat 7 Feb (14.30), GFT
Only 6620 kilometres from the glittering skyline of New York is Korso, a suburban wasteland on the outskirts of Helsinki. On its frozen streets, 20-year-old Markus dreams of becoming a basketball star in the Big Apple, committing petty crime with his friends to try to make his dream a reality. This gritty drama is an eye-opening look at the lengths people will go to when chasing an impossible dream.
For No Eyes Only (UK Premiere) Sat 7 Feb (16.30), GFT
When teenage computer geek Sam is unwillingly confined to his bedroom nursing a broken ankle, he is stuck in world of boredom. To fill his days he installs computer software that allows him to hack into the webcams of his fellow pupils and leads him to keep track of the suspicious activities of a new student. Sam teams up with his friend Livia and they become embroiled in a web of voyeurism, intrigue and murder.  A modern adaption of Hitchcock’s Rear Window, this German thriller exposes the dangerous consequences of spying on your neighbours.
Special Event: Glue (produced by Eleven Film) Sat 7 Feb (18.00) GFT
From the BAFTA winning writer behind Skins and This is England ’86.  Glue is Jack Thorne’s latest hard-hitting youth television drama for E4, featuring up-and-coming British actors including Yasmin Paige (Submarine) and Jordan Stephens (Rizzle Kicks). GYFF offers young fans the chance to go behind the scenes with a screening and panel discussion featuring members of the cast and crew (guestsTBC).
Supernova (Scottish Premiere) Sat 7 Feb (20.15), GFT
Dutch teenager Meis and her family live a seemingly stagnant existence in their house which sits on a bend along a country road. Meis’ parents met when her father’s car crashed through their living room window. Following numerous other collisions, the family are waiting tensely for the next arrival. A dreamy and compelling tale of one girl’s sexual awakening.
GMAC Film Academy: What is genre? Sun 8 Feb (13.00), Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Join director and screenwriter Eleanor Yule and GMAC Film’s 16 to 19 year old BFI Film Academy participants for a discussion on the specifics of film genre. GMAC Film delivers the BFI Film Academy in Glasgow in partnership with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and aims to give young people the first step towards pursuing a career in film and TV.
Class Enemy (Scottish Premiere) Sun 8 Feb (15.00), GFT
This darkly gripping classroom drama was Slovenia’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards. When Robert takes over as a high school German teacher, his old-fashioned methods quickly create tension between him and his students. When one of them takes her own life, Robert finds himself the scapegoat as relationships turn sour. With a classroom of non-professional actors, this chilling case study paints an authentic portrait of society in miniature.
Time of Eve + Cosplay Parade Sun 8 Feb (17.15), GFT
When Rikuo notices Sammy, his android has been acting strangely he decides to investigate.  In a world where androids are disrespected, his search leads him to the Time of Eve café, where humans and androids are treated as equals.  A touching and thought-provoking anime take on what makes us human. The film will be followed by the cosplay parade, where special guest judges will hand out some great mystery prizes for the best dressed!
Green Events at BAaD: Jumanji + Labyrinth Sun 8 Feb (Jumanji, 17.15; Labyrinth 20.00)  BAaD
Barras Art and Design centre, 54 Calton Entry, The Barras, Glasgow G40 2SB, www.baadglasgow.com
Welcome to the jungle! We’ve got fun and games…and Fair Trade food, live music, and pop-up screenings of two classic films set in strange other worlds. The GYFF team will turn the central space at BAaD into a fantasy wilderness at the height of winter, with their first foray into programming a pop-up event. This event celebrates Glasgow’s Green Year 2015.
Jumanji (1995) tells the story of an explorer (Robin Williams) trapped inside a mysterious board game, which pulls siblings Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Bradley Pierce) into its wacky wonderful world.  Labyrinth (1986) will for a whole generation always be David Bowie’s defining role, as his wicked, be-mulleted Goblin King draws Jennifer Connelly’s Sarah into a labyrinth filled with strange creatures while she tries to rescue her baby brother.
MASTERCLASSES: Free, email gyff@glasgowfilm.org to book.
Saturday 7th February, 12-4pm, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Panel: Writing for Film and TV with Stephen Greenhorn (Sunshine on Leith, Dr Who) Free
Directing and Acting Masterclass with Tamar van den Dop  (Supernova) £5Â
Sunday 8th February, 12-4pm, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Anime Drop in Free
Filmmaking with Robert Florence £5, limited spaces available, 16-25 year olds
GYFF is the only film festival in Europe where young people are involved at all stages of festival production, from selecting the film programme to publicity and event management, and welcomed over 8000 admissions in 2013.
GYFF tickets are on sale from Thursday 18 December at 10am, at www.glasgowfilm.org/gyff Standard GYFF ticket price is £8.00/ £6.50 concession and £5 for under 14s (with proof of age). Special events may have different prices. GFT’s free Youth Card scheme offers standard tickets and masterclasses at the reduced price of £4.50. Info at www.glasgowfilm.org/youthcard
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