Leeds Young Film Festival 2016 launches Animation Central

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF LEEDS FILM

The full Leeds Young Film Festival 2016 (LYFF16) programme has been revealed on leedsyoungfilm.com and features over a week of the best international films, animations, workshops and masterclasses.

LYFF16 takes place from 24-31 March 2016 at venues across the city, inviting young people and their families to discover a whole new world of cinema.

LYFF16 is lead by the newly launched Animation Central, supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

Taking place at Carriageworks Theatre over Easter weekend, Animation Central is a four-day programme of hands-on activity for young people aged 5-15, and forms the UK's only dedicated event for young people and their families to create animation and digital projects using the latest technology.

It will feature workshops and masterclasses by artists behind Clangers, Bob The Builder, Mr Bean and Peppa Pig, as well as a special BAFTA Kids Adventure Time preview, and Minecraft, Lego Animation, Stop Motion and Blender Digital Effects workshops.

The programme has been co-curated by animator David Bunting, whose credits include Thunderbirds, The Tigger Movie and Shaun the Sheep.

The festival will also present the very best in new and classic cinema from around the world for young people, with short and feature films from 60 different countries.

Leeds Town Hall will be host to an opening night preview of Disney's Zootropolis (Thursday 24 March, 6.00pm), as well as reprise screenings of both Star Wars - Episode VII: The Force Awakens and a double bill of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 & 2 on its giant screen, which makes it one of the largest screening venues in the North.

The Animation Central film programme will showcase a selection of animated feature favourites, including Frozen Sing-a-long, The Spongebob Squarepants Movie, Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride and Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal.

The city’s iconic Edwardian cinema The Hyde Park Picture House will feature a whole week of international cinema, including a closing preview of Selma Hayek-produced The Prophet.

Based on the popular poem anthology, which has sold over 100 million copies worldwide, the anticipated anthology film from Lion King director Roger Allers will screen on Thursday 31st March, 6.00pm with a live Skype Q&A from segment director Tomm Moore, Oscar-nominated in 2015 for both The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea.

The Hyde Park Picture House programme also includes a late evening 30^th anniversary screening of James Cameron’s classic Aliens in partnership with Creatures of the Night; documentary He Named Me Malala, about a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate targeted by the Taliban; a selection of the best films from Leeds International Film Festival (Assassination Classroom, Breaking A Monster, Crow’s Egg); and 25th Anniversary Screenings of Delicatessen and Wes Craven’s The People Under the Stairs.

Together with Sneaky Experience LYFF16 will present two live cinema productions for older viewers. Leeds Town Hall will once again be transformed into The Film House for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory for Grown-Up Kids, and will invite audiences to enrol in the Shawshank State Penitentiary for all-time favourite The Shawshank Redemption.

Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said:

“The Leeds Young Film Festival is a fantastic celebration of film and a great way for families to come together and enjoy an exciting and dynamic programme of events.

“But it’s also a brilliant way of nurturing the next generation, introducing young people to film and hopefully inspiring them to pick up the baton and carry on Leeds’s rich tradition in the industry.”

Debbie Maturi, Director of Leeds Young Film Festival added: "We are delighted to be able to offer our largest ever festival this Easter, from the best new cinema for young people at Hyde Park Picture House to some classic film experiences at Leeds Town Hall, with the support of the BFI Film Festival Fund, awarding funds from The National Lottery.

"Our new Animation Central programme, supported using public funding by Arts Council England, brings some of the UK's top animation professionals to Leeds to ensure that not only do the city's young people have fun this Easter, but they get a chance to develop their creative skills and learn about this important and thriving British industry."

Tickets are exceptional value, and are available from just £2 for Under 18s / £3 for Adults / £2.50 concession.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

17th Leeds Young Film Festival (LYFF) is England's largest family film event, with inspiring films and innovative activities citywide this Easter. It is presented with the support of the BFI Film Festival Fund, awarding funds from The National Lottery. It will see the launch of the first ever Animation Central, supported with public funding by Arts Council England, featuring four days animation masterclasses, workshops and films at Carriageworks Theatre.

The Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds' iconic Edwardian cinema, will again be host to a week of the best new and classic films from around the world for young people. The Film House also returns to Leeds Town Hall for a second year with five days of live cinema, including productions of Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory and The Shawshank Redemption, especially for grown-ups.

Visit leedsyoungfilm.com to see the full festival line-up.

ENDS

ENDS

For enquiries please contact:

Nick Jones, Communications Manager

Nick.Jones@leeds.gov.uk / 0113 247 8489

www.leedsyoungfilm.com / www.twitter.com/leedsyoungfilm

www.facebook.com/leedsyoungfilm