SHE is only 16-years-old but Charlotte Hutton is one of the team that has put together a full programme of cinema aimed at young people.
The sixth year pupil from Glasgow High School is now looking forward with excitement to the opening night of the innovative Glasgow Youth Film Festival as she waits to find out how the public respond to their programming.
Along with nine other teenagers aged between 15 and 19-years-old, Charlotte took part in a two-week summer school run by Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) to learn how to put together a thought-provoking programme.
The results can be seen in Glasgow from September 22-24 and it’s clear the team have made some bold choices as the festival opens with a film about a transgender child’s struggle for acceptance.
For Charlotte, who would like to study film at university, being able to take part in the programming has been something of an eye-opener.
“It’s quite difficult if you have never programmed a festival before as there is a lot that goes in to it,” she said. “You have to think about what audiences will like as well as how to widen access but the GFT team were good at getting us involved and listening to our opinions.”
HOW DID THEY DO IT?
DESPITE the hard work, Charlotte said it was a “fun” way to spend the summer. She found out about the opportunity on social media and, as a regular film goer, decided it would be something she would like to do.
“It was really interesting. Most of us had not done anything like this before but GFT were really good at making us feel at ease. We spent a lot of time watching films and discussing them and thinking what would be good for our audience. We wanted to look for films that would get people thinking and talking.”
That will certainly be the case with the opening film, Rebekah Fortune’s thought-provoking debut feature Just Charlie which won Edinburgh Film Festival’s 2017 audience award.
“It’s about a transgender girl and her struggles with her family so I think it is quite relevant for young people at the moment,” said Charlotte. “We’ve been lucky enough to get Rebekah Fortune to take part in a question and answer session so we are looking forward to that.”
Glasgow-based director Peter Mackie Burns has also been booked to take part in the festival and will introduce his debut feature Daphne, an emotional contemporary drama about a 30-something Londoner who witnesses an attack on her local shopkeeper.
“This one was also at Edinburgh Film Festival and got a great reception there so we are hoping for a good audience for it,” said Charlotte.
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
OTHER highlights include The Scottish Premiere of At Eye Level, the winner of Best Family Film at the German Film Awards. It features Michi who is picked on because he is the smallest child in his foster home. When he discovers a letter written by his deceased mother he believes it holds the secret of his father’s identity and sets out to find him in a tale of difference and belonging.
Another Scottish premiere is the new big-screen adaptation of Jasper Jones. This gripping Australian thriller starring Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving sees a small town in disarray over a missing girl and a strange outsider.
“It has a mysterious element but is also quite a light-hearted story and has stunning cinematography,” Charlotte said.
A collaboration with Crunchyroll Movie Night and Scotland Loves Anime will bring anime adventure The Ancient Magus’ Bride to the big screen, preceded by an exclusive look at original Crunchyroll production Children of Ether before it’s even screened in Japan.
IS THERE MORE?
CULT modern classics are a feature of the festival with a late night screening of Luc Besson’s Leon and a closing gala screening of Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom which will see Glasgow’s stunning Mackintosh Queen’s Cross Church transformed into a version of the film’s Camp Ivanhoe.
The location was chosen by the young programmers who also have to decide how to turn the church into Camp Ivanhoe.
The festival will also feature a series of free, behind-the-scenes workshops for prospective young filmmakers led by industry professionals.
“I think we have got something for everyone as we have a range of quite different films,” said Charlotte. “I’ve never programmed a film festival before so it is slightly nerve wracking but I know it will be a success as is the case with everything GFT does. It’s been a really good opportunity and is very exciting.”
Sarah Emery at GFT said she was impressed with the young programmers “enthusiasm and commitment” in selecting the films to create a festival that would “inspire” audiences.
“The GYFF Young Programmers have come up with an exciting and creative programme that really does have something for everyone,” she said. “They have curated a programme of international films and workshops which includes two Q&As, two Scottish Premieres and a very special screening of Moonrise Kingdom at Mackintosh Queens Cross which the team are particularly looking forward to.”
For more information go to www.glasgowfilm.org/gyff
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here