The director of a new film shot in Bradford will be talking about it prior to a screening in the city as part of the National Youth Film Festival.

Called The Selfish Giant, the film is about two boys, Swifty and Arbor, whose encounters with illegal scrap metal dealers lead them to the gruff overlord of a huge scrapyard that, for the youngsters, is full of opportunity.

The film, shot in Odsal and Buttershaw, stars first-time actors Conner Chapman and Shaun Thomas who were cast from auditions in their schools. A modern re-working of an Oscar Wilde story, the film won Best European Film at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The director, Clio Barnard, of Otley, was inspired by people she met while shooting The Arbor, a film about Bradford playwright Andrea Dunbar, on Buttershaw estate in 2010.

The Selfish Giant goes on national release this autumn but there will be two special screenings at the National Media Museum on Monday when Miss Barnard will be joined by the cast for Q&A sessions.

As well as a public screening, there will be another for the National Youth Film Festival, a major new event running across the UK from October 21 to November 8, allowing young people to enjoy a range of films, get creative and engage with the film industry.

The National Media Museum is one of 400 venues taking part in the festival, aimed at schools and colleges. It is supported by the BFI, Cinema First, RealD 3D, the TES and First News.

The BFI is investing £26m of Lottery funding over four years for Film Nation UK to deliver a visionary new film education programme, available to every five to 19-year-old across the UK. The BFI’s aim is to create a single unified programme for watching, making and learning about film to safeguard future film audiences and stimulate a new generation of filmmakers and film talent.

  • There will be a public preview screening of The Selfish Giant at 6.40pm on Monday, with a Q&A with Miss Barnard and cast members. For tickets, ring 0844 8563797.

NATIONAL YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL IN BRADFORD

The National Youth Film Festival opens in Bradford with a preview screening of The Selfish Giant, and other events are taking place across the city.
As well as the National Media Museum (pictured), other venues include the Odeon and Cineworld Bradford. Schools and colleges are offered the chance to take their students to the cinema for free and enjoy a diverse range of films and related events. All films have been chosen for educational value.
Paul Reeves, chief executive of Film-Nation UK, said: “We’re delighted to present the first National Youth Film Festival and offer so many cinematic delights to the young people of Bradford.
“Film is the most powerful and relevant of art forms and the festival aims to offer all young people the chance to see new and different types of film on the big screen, and to meet the people who make them.”
For more information, visit nationalyouthfilmfestival.org.