GFF 2012: The Youth of Today
Youth is wasted on the young and the same goes for the Glasgow Youth Film Festival, which has an eclectic programme that will delight all age ranges
Give a score of fifteen to eighteen-year-old film fans a festival and what do they do? They programme Napoleon Dynamite (10 Feb) and Harold and Maude (14 Feb) alongside each other as cult classics. This exquisite display of taste bodes well for the quality of programming at this year's ten-day Glasgow Youth Film Festival.
Taking place 5-15 Feb, the GYFF, this year headed up with the gala screening of US comedy Terri, starring John C Reilly as a loveable loser, provides a wonderful preamble to the main event. Other highlights include The Muppets, who'll be bringing manic energy to the Glasgow Film Theatre on 5 Feb a week before its UK-wide release. There's more Muppet magic to be had with Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, a tear-jerking documentary on the man behind the Sesame Street favourite, which rounds off proceedings 15 Feb.
Sandwiched between these big names and aforementioned cult classics are anime, short films and 3D animation. With a fresh take on programming and access to films taking on subjects from Asperger syndrome to skateboarding, the GYFF team has successfully curated an impressive programme for teens, adults and families alike.
They've also impressed their funders, with Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland, praising the team at the festival's programme launch, saying, “Scotland is the perfect stage for events, and the strength of the GFF programme is testament to that fact, with Glasgow Short Film Festival and Glasgow Youth Film Festival contributing to a month-long celebration of cinematic talent.”
Special events line the festival, allowing young Glaswegian film enthusiasts to glean advice and experience from the likes of BAFTA-nominated director Luke Snellin. BFI Future Film brings #tweetapitch to Glasgow, which has been dubbed X Factor for aspiring filmmakers. For the film shy, there's also a performance of an original stage adaptation of Sylvain Chomet's Belleville Rendez-vous as the GYFF team take over the Arches Café.
In summary, take a week out for Glasgow Youth Film Festival this February, it'll make you feel young again.
+ Three gems from this year's GYFF
- Terri (9 Feb, 8.30pm, GFT)
- Princess Mononoke (12 Feb, 2.45pm, CCA)
- Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey (15 Feb, 20.15pm, GFT)