Member Article

Call for young people aged 15-19 across the North East to take part in Tyneside Cinema’s award-winning documentary academy

Tyneside Cinema is on the hunt for budding young filmmakers to say something about the world around them, as applications open for its sixth annual Northern Stars Documentary Academy.

Documentary Academy runs on Saturdays from August to December 2018 and anyone aged 15-19 across the North East can apply. The programme is completely free of charge and no previous filmmaking experience is required – just the desire to say something about the world you live in.

Successful applicants are supported by a professional filmmaking team, working in small groups to plan, shoot and edit short documentary films, before seeing their work on the big screen at Tyneside Cinema at a premiere event for family and friends.

All the finished films are entered into awards and festivals as well as being available online for participants to link to, for instance on their CVs.

Previous films have won numerous awards and been screened at festivals both at home and abroad, and participants have used their experience from the programme to gain a place at college or university, or as part of a portfolio to get work in the film industry.

BBC Senior Producer Chris Jackson has supported the programme since its launch in 2012, and joined young filmmakers from last year’s Documentary Academy at the official launch of this year’s programme at Tyneside Cinema.

Chris Jackson said: “I’m impressed by the standard of the Documentary Academy films every year. There are great benefits in taking part: you’ll learn some amazing skills and be mentored by professionals who’ll give you all the secrets you need to know to make your film a success. You’ll also make some great friendships and work together as a team. It’s a fantastic opportunity – I wish I’d had it when I was younger!”

Lilith Allen, 18, directed last year’s film Plain Sight.

Lilith said: “Documentary Academy really is for everyone – it was a fantastic experience and you gain so many different skills from it – it’s not just about the filmmaking. If you’re thinking of applying I would say just go for it – it’s been an amazing experience and it’s genuinely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Oscar Jelley, 17, was the camera operator on last year’s Documentary Academy film My 13th Birthday.

Oscar said: “I came away with a lot of friendships and a bunch of transferrable skills – the ability to make decisions better, plan things better and understand how the film industry worked in a wider way. I’d encourage people to apply because it’s really good fun and it’s useful in life.”

Northern Stars Documentary Academy takes place thanks to the support and sponsorship of intu, who co-own intu Eldon Square in Newcastle and intu Metrocentre in Gateshead.

Alexander Nicoll, intu’s Corporate Responsibility Director, commented:

“I am really pleased, once again, to give intu’s strong support to the 2018 programme of the Documentary Academy. Over the several years during which we have promoted our partnership with Tyneside Cinema the Documentary Academy has enabled budding talented and hard-working young film makers to create some highly professional, entertaining and often hard-hitting films. I know that the class of 2018 will take full advantage of what the Documentary Academy offers them.”

Ian Fenton, Tyneside Cinema’s Creative Director of Learning & Participation, said:

“This is a brilliant opportunity for any young people who want to find out about what it takes to make a film, whether they’re thinking about a possible career in the media or film industry or just want to have fun and meet new people.

Ian added: “As ever we are hugely grateful to intu for their continued support of Documentary Academy, enabling us to offer this fantastic programme free of charge to young people in the region.”

Applications for Documentary Academy 2018 are now open. Visit the Tyneside Cinema website to find out more and download an application form.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Suhaine Baptie .