First Cut Youth Film Festival

First Cut Youth Film Festival First Cut! Youth Film Festival Summer Film Weeks have been run since 2008, with two taking place, in Midleton & Carrigaline, in 2009. Summer Film Week.

Youth Film Project & Festival comprises of a rolling programme of workshops, summer schools and film screening events for young people and sets out to involve young people enjoyably in the arts; build their confidence and skills, enhance their personal development and promote their social inclusion in the wider community. A Filmmaking Workshop Programme has been developed with 1, 2 day and week-lo

ng workshops in both digital film making and animation. Two day Easter Workshops have taken place in 5 centres since 2011. Through the First Draft annual Short Story/Script Competition First Cut! young writers to submit their short stories to be adapted for the screen at the First Cut! In 2012 we can see clearly the benefits of introducing a planned progression route for young filmmakers, from a variety of backgrounds and with differing abilities. The introduction of Animation training, also at this new level, taking place in central locations, brings young people on another journey, away from their original groups of friends and together in new groups of young filmmakers from a broader geographical area. The annual First Cut! Summer Film Week, a 5 day programme for 20 young people, aged 13-20, is designed to provide a progression route for aspiring young filmmakers giving them access to professional filmmakers &equipment otherwise not available to them, bringing them together to work in teams, develop skills and confidence. In weeks prior to the Summer Week we make contact with youth projects, clubs, Youthreach etc, who are given priority information and access to places on the programme. The programme includes the following: introduction, ice breaking, story/script analysis, art direction, pre-production, roles, camerawork, acting for film, directing, lighting, shooting & editing. All programmes are evaluated. Some feedback from participants:
“I had so much fun this week… was inspiring for me; meeting people, camera work, being in the actor business and editing... having the trust of the instructors and use of equipment was brilliant. It was a great week….Amazing...would do it again in a heartbeat”

The next generation of Irish directors is here! Experience the videos made by twenty outstanding emerging filmmakers wit...
02/06/2026

The next generation of Irish directors is here! Experience the videos made by twenty outstanding emerging filmmakers with the YMVC - Youth Music Video Competition mentoring scheme.

6pm on Thursday June 11th at the Lighthouse Cinema, Dublin. Screening free but ticketed, booking details linked in bio.

The Youth Music Video Competition (YMVC) is Ireland’s unique mentorship programme for emerging directors aged 18-25.This programme celebrates a decade of YMVC by bringing the videos made as part of YMVC 2024 and 2025 to the big screen. Every year for the past decade First Cut Youth Film Festival has presented YMVC in partnership with director Brendan Canty (Christy) who devised it. Ten exceptional young filmmakers are selected annually to make a music video for a recognised Irish music act in a way that accurately mirrors the process directors working in the industry go through. Participants are mentored in this by a panel of top-tier directors including Canty, Bob Gallagher, Kate Dolan, Tara O’Callaghan and Ellius Grace. The results go from strength to strength and YMVC has been instrumental in launching the careers of a number of now established directors.

YMVC is supported by The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Cork County Council.

Spaces are starting to fill up for our youth workshops, so make sure you book! The five day workshops are throughout Cou...
22/05/2026

Spaces are starting to fill up for our youth workshops, so make sure you book!

The five day workshops are throughout County Cork for young people interested in filmmaking 🎥

Apply now on our website, link in bio

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The workshops are subsidised by Cork County Council, The Arts Council, SECAD, Cork ETB and Creative Ireland.

All the staff at First Cut Youth Film Festival are devastated to hear the news of the tragic passing of Max Hendrickson....
18/05/2026

All the staff at First Cut Youth Film Festival are devastated to hear the news of the tragic passing of Max Hendrickson.

Max was not only the winner of this year’s FCYFF Award for Best Film, but he has also been a mainstay of the Festival for many years. Each year, we have shown film after visionary film by Max, all surprising and startlingly different but with two things in common: they were technically brilliant and dazzling and hauntingly imaginative. He was widely recognised as a leading light in Irish youth film.

There are no words for the personal loss that his family and friends have experienced.

Our deepest and most heartfelt condolences go out them.

Image: Enkata. Max Hendrickson, 2019.

Theres still time to apply for the series of week-long filmmaking workshops 🎥A fun and affordable programme for young pe...
06/05/2026

Theres still time to apply for the series of week-long filmmaking workshops 🎥

A fun and affordable programme for young people who live throughout County Cork and are interested in any aspect of filmmaking, in front of or behind the camera

Apply now on our website 🎬

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The workshops are subsidised by Cork County Council, The Arts Council, SECAD, Cork ETB and Creative Ireland.

The Cork Young Filmmakers programme is offering a series of week-long Filmmaking Workshops for Young People in County Co...
21/04/2026

The Cork Young Filmmakers programme is offering a series of week-long Filmmaking Workshops for Young People in County Cork this summer! 🎥

This is a fun and affordable programme for young people who live throughout County Cork and are interested in any aspect of filmmaking, in front of or behind the camera

Apply now on our website 🎬

——————————
The workshops are subsidised by Cork County Council, The Arts Council, SECAD, Cork ETB and Creative Ireland.

🎬✨ Looking back on a wonderful week in Youghal! We are grateful for the support from , , & . Images from Michael Husse...
12/03/2026

🎬✨ Looking back on a wonderful week in Youghal!

We are grateful for the support from , , & .

Images from Michael Hussey and Liam O’Leary

And that’s a wrap on First Cut Youth Film Festival 2026! 🎊🎬A huge thank you to each and every one of the young filmmaker...
08/03/2026

And that’s a wrap on First Cut Youth Film Festival 2026! 🎊🎬

A huge thank you to each and every one of the young filmmakers that joined us this past week! We hope to see you again next year!

And likewise a huge shout out to and the Mall Arts Centre for hosting us this week, thank you for your generous support.

Keep your eyes peeled for more content coming up this week as we look back on this years festival ✨🎥

A close up of the fabulous programme artwork from ! ✨🎬Pick one up on your way into the festival in today!
07/03/2026

A close up of the fabulous programme artwork from ! ✨🎬

Pick one up on your way into the festival in today!

Welcoming our Special Guests, siblings Abreáin and Arann Blake!Join us in for a q&a as the Blake’s chat through navigat...
07/03/2026

Welcoming our Special Guests, siblings Abreáin and Arann Blake!

Join us in for a q&a as the Blake’s chat through navigating a career in the film and wider arts industry, followed by a screening of their latest short film, Welfare.

Abreáin Blake is a multidisciplinary artist from Cork City whose work explores Irish identity, cultural inheritance, and contemporary q***r life. Her practice spans across multiple artforms with focus on music and film.

Arann Blake is a writer/director from Cork City. Originally coming from a background of writing and producing independent theatre, Arann went on to receive an MA in Screenwriting from the University of Arts London

In 2025, Arann formed the Film Collective, Ramallae Dubh, alongside Abreain Blake, Andy Killian and Zoe Greenway. The group’s first short film, Welfare, written and directed by Arann, premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2025. The group have just wrapped on their second project which will be released later this year

They are both finalists in the Ardán and RTÉ Short Film Commission 2026 with their short film Tír, developed alongside producer Ali Doyle.

Saturday is the big day! Join us in all day long for all things film!
06/03/2026

Saturday is the big day! Join us in all day long for all things film!

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Regal Cinema
Youghal
P36DA30

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