YFF Archives | SFW 2015 | Southampton Film Week

For the last 5 years Southampton Film Week (SFW) has included the Youth Film Festival (YFF) which focuses on film workshops, competitions, screenings and events for young people. In 2010 and 2011 the Youth Film Festival delivery was supported by a committee of young people.  For 2015 SFW is reintroducing a team of up to 12 young people between 12-19 yrs of age to document YFF events (through filming & photography) and write reviews and articles to be posted on the Southampton Film Week website. SFW hopes that the YFF Team will also have a greater involvement in planning the programming strand of the 2016 festival in addition to film events for young people throughout the year.​The YFF Team will work with City Eye and Southampton Film Week staff and volunteers before and during this year’s Southampton Film Week festival. Together they will document and review SFW and YFF events using film, photography and journalism.

Frankenweenie, an amazing kids film, was shown in the Harbour Lights cinema for film week.  It was about a boy called Victor Frankenstein who brings animals back from the dead (Sound familiar?). His dog dies early on in the film and he invents a way to save him, however, when people find out, things go wrong. It was made by Tim Burton who always gives films a strange feel to them. The style of the film was very interesting because it was in black and white.  Many famous characters appeared as comic caricatures in the film including a fat Vanhelsing.  With some appropriate humour and a halloween feel, it is definitely a great film for most ages.

When the film festival team was there at the screening they invited some of the viewers to be interviewed. One child said that he “Really enjoyed the film and loved the characters,” and that he “loved that Southampton Film Week was showing lots of interesting films.” This screening was a massive hit for families.

On Sunday, 31st of November, the fantastic silent movie: La Passion de Jeanne D’Arc was shown at Turner Sims with live accompaniment by the Orlando Consort Choir.
The classic true tale takes place in France and follows the story of Joan of Arc’s trial following her alleged crimes against the Church. Directed in 1928, by Carl Theodor Dreyer, the film is beautifully made, and gripping from start to finish.
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I loved the motion picture, and although different from anything I had ever seen, it allowed me an insight to what capabilities filmmakers had in the early 1900s. The live choir accompanying the movie was really great and gave it a much more immersive experience.
The showing proved a massive hit for all ages, giving everyone who came a fantastic evening.