Arts Programme and Cultural Development

Barking and Dagenham's Young Person's Film Festival

11 July 2006 saw the screening of the results of the borough's first young person's film festival, jointly organised by officers from Learning, Skills and Enterprise, Arts Programme and Cultural Development and the School Improvement Service - further developments have now lead to a Barking and Dagenham Film Festival.

Pooling financial support gained from Film London East, of which the borough is a partner, the Learning and Skills Council, European Social Fund and Jack Petchey Foundation.

The 'production team', including Becky Smith, Education Regeneration Manager and Chloe Brown, Community Arts Officer, helped over 60 young people, aged 13 -19 year included Barking College National Diploma in Media students, Trinity School, Eastbury Secondary School, Eastbrook Comprehensive, All Saints Catholic School, Barking and Dagenham Training Services, Youth Offending Service, Dagenham Park Community School, Sydney Russell School and Barking Abbey School students produce and star in 17 films, with the aid of professional film makers.

The outstanding results were screened to an invited audience of VIPs and participants, sponsored and hosted by the Vue Cinema, with speeches by partners and the Chief Executive, Rob Whiteman.

The films will also be shown later this year as part of the borough's Molten Festival offering more opportunities to showcase the talents of these young people, who achieved so much in a very short time.

We are extremely proud of their achievements both in front of and behind the camera and hope that this is the first of many film festivals supporting and encouraging young people's progression into the creative industries.

Barking and Dagenham Film Festival brochure