The PEACE Programmes Learning Platform Level 1

North West Youth Film Festival is a cross-border, cross community youth training project that utilises film to contribute to positive relationship building and to develop a greater understanding and reconciliation between the two main communities (and new immigrant communities) in counties Derry and Donegal. The project will be led by the Donegal County Council, Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny in partnership with the Nerve Centre, Derry (Derry Youth and Community Workshop: Derry Well Women; Girl Power, The North West Centre for Learning and Development) Donegal Youth Services, Letterkenny Youth Information Centre, Donegal Travellers Project, Donegal Youth Council and CDP. The cross border project will be initiated in summer 2009, with a one-week intensive film summer school, bringing together 50 participants, between the ages of 12 - 18 years from the partner groups. The overall theme of the project will be racism and sectarianism. The films summer school will include themed talks and screenings, and film production master classes (such as storyboarding, script writing, camera skills and video editing). The principles of the workshop will be based on international best practice, using film facilitators and mentors of the highest local, national and international standard. From September - December 2009 participants will utilise the skills learned to develop and make an original film or documentary under the themes of racism and sectarianism. Facilitators/mentors will visit groups during this three month period to advise and assist with the film production. Participants will also visit a number of Film Festivals during 2009 - 2010 such as "lights Out National Film Festival for Young People" Dublin (July); "Junior Film fleadh" Galway (October) and "Foyle Film Festival", Derry (November). This will assist participants personal development and evaluate their own film making skills. It will also provide social opportunities for participants from varying background and cross sections of the community. The project will culminate with the 1st Annual North West Youth Film Festival, in April 2010. It will bring together the participants to screen films made the previous year through the project. There will also be talks and screening around themes of racism and sectarianism. The Regional Cultural Centre aims to make the North West Youth Film Festival a sustainable annual cross border event.