Northern Ireland

Boss of Oscar nominated studio urges young people to create their own work

Young people were inspired to consider careers in filmmaking
Young people were inspired to consider careers in filmmaking Young people were inspired to consider careers in filmmaking

YOUNG people have been inspired to consider careers in filmmaking by the head of an Oscar-nominated animation studio at a special event organised by Into Film.

Cartoon Saloon CEO Paul Young told a group of more than 200 teenagers about the increasing opportunities in the film and television industry at the Belfast Film Festival screening of his company's latest film The Breadwinner.

The Into Film event, supported by NI Screen and Film Hub NI, gave people the chance to discuss careers and to see Cartoon Saloon's newest film, which was also nominated for an Academy Award.

Among the schools attending were St Paul's College Kilrea, St Mary's College in Clady, Fort Hill College Lisburn and Hazelwood Integrated College in Belfast.

Into Film is a UK-wide organisation with a regional hub in Northern Ireland, which aims to put film at the heart of children and young people's education, helping to support their academic, cultural, and social development.

The organisation runs an annual children's film festival and also supports filmmaking projects through industry events as well as through film clubs in schools.

In partnership with the Nerve Centre in Derry and Cinemagic, it also provides free training and resources for use in the classroom for hundreds of films that are educationally beneficial.

"Film is a real growth industry in Northern Ireland and there are many opportunities here that simply didn't exist previously. We believe it's important to foster the creative talent of our young people and also to make sure they are aware of the future job options that are out there," said Sean Kelly from Into Film.

Mr Young said his advice to young people was to start as early as possible.

"They can be writing and putting together their own short films now - don't wait and don't be shy about sharing your work. My colleague Tomm Moore, who created Song of the Sea and Book of Kells – which were both nominated for Academy Awards - started making his own films when he was 12 or 13. It teaches you how to be creative and to work collaboratively."

English and drama teacher Aideen Quinn from St Paul's in Kilrea has brought her pupils to several Into Film events and uses film frequently in the classroom as a teaching tool.

"Events like this are really useful to our young people. It gives them the chance to consider wider career options and to think about the bigger issues that were brought up in The Breadwinner," she said.

:: For more information about Into Film go to intofilm.org.