In partnership with Tyneside Cinema and True North, we’re pleased to announce the re-opening of applications for Random Acts, a joint initiative with Arts Council England (ACE) and Channel Four (C4) which aims to develop young creative talent through commissioning and producing short films by young people from a diverse range of backgrounds and art forms.
The announcement comes as two short films by previous applicants who were supported and mentored by Random Acts Network Centre North are set to be broadcast on C4, in the latest televised series of Random Acts. Nathan Glendinning’s film Boneyard will be broadcast on Thu 17 November, with Josh Hawkins’ The Blackest Day the following week on Thu 24 November. The participants’ work is also available to view on C4’s online platform.
Applications to Random Acts North open on Mon 14 November, and are open to 16-24 year olds who live or study in the North of England. No previous film-making experience is required. Successful applicants will be invited to take part in a series of workshops across the North West, Yorkshire and the North East, before 24 young people are each commissioned to produce and direct a short film between 90 seconds and 3 minutes in length. Applications close on Mon 3 April 2017.
As part of the production process, successful applicants will take part in an inspirational 2-day residential training workshop with professionals from across the creative industries, before being mentored in the creation of their own short films with the support of a professional production company.
Random Acts was established in 2011 as a platform for short-form arts films made by artists, rather than programmes about them. Tyneside Cinema was appointed last year as the lead organisation for the Network Centre North, one of five centres across England which are delivering an education, training and production programme over three years, commissioning 24 films a year from young people across the North.
Tyneside Cinema is delivering Random Acts North in partnership with the team here at HOME and True North in Leeds, one of the North’s leading independent production companies. Also involved in the partnership is an extended network of collaborators including large and small arts, cultural, youth, community and educational organisations across the North (North East, Yorkshire, North West and Cumbria).
Ian Fenton, Creative Director of Learning & Participation at Tyneside Cinema, said: “I’m thrilled and delighted that young people in the North are once again getting the chance to develop their ideas into visionary films through Random Acts North.”
He added: ‘It’s particularly exciting that two of our young filmmakers are seeing their short films broadcast on Channel 4 in the coming weeks. We’re all very much looking forward to finding the next generation of artists and filmmakers and urge anyone who has something to say to apply now.’
Random Acts Network Centre North will be running information sessions and ideas workshops for potential applicants between December 2016 and when applications close in April 2017.
For more information and to sign up to the mailing list, please visit the Random Acts website at or email randomacts@tynesidecinema.co.uk.