CCA on Tuesday 26th February, 2019

Pioneering Scottish film & TV producer, Chris Young, will announce actor and writer Joe Thomas as the first ambassador for the Young Films Foundation at a Glasgow Film Festival Industry event hosted by the Young Films Foundation and Channel 4.

Young and Thomas worked together on the iconic ‘The Inbetweeners’ sitcom and box office hit movie. They are partnering up again to deliver hands-on support through the bespoke talent development programme created on the Isle of Skye.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural programme, the Young Films Foundation is offering a programme for summer 2019, in partnership with Screen Scotland, Film4 and Channel 4, MG Alba, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Torabhaig Distillery.

Chris Young said:

“I’m thrilled to be announcing Joe’s increased involvement with the Young Films Foundation. Clearly, we make a great partnership! He is a talented writer, as well as an actor, and when he came to the residency last year his insight, experience and generous contribution were of enormous benefit to the participants.”

Joe Thomas said:

I’m very excited at the challenge of being an ambassador for the Young Films Foundation residency. I never would have got anywhere without the support of mentors including Chris, and hopefully this is an opportunity for me to do something similar for others. I hope I can give some insight into how to progress in this industry – what to do, probably also what not to do, and pass on the stuff that you can only really learn by experience.

The event on 26th February at the Glasgow Film Festival will be hosted by Young Films Foundation and Channel 4, and will bring together last year’s participants with this year’s aspiring applicants. Chris Young will also take the opportunity to announce a new partner in the Foundation’s residency programme, the Cambridge-based Watersprite International Film Festival.

Ollie Madden, Head of Creative at Film4 said:

“Film4 are delighted to renew our support for Young Films Foundation. Last year’s inspiring inaugural event felt of real benefit to the filmmakers in building on their ideas. We can’t wait to see the progress they’ve made at next week’s Glasgow Film Festival event. And of course we look forward to meeting and working with this year’s intake, as they get to benefit from the time, space, support, mentoring and sanctuary offered in Skye’s idyllic surroundings”

Mark Thomas, Screen Officer at Screen Scotland said:

“The Young Films Foundation’s summer 2019 talent development programme offers a unique opportunity for emerging writers, directors and producers to develop their projects with experienced industry practitioners across feature film, comedy and broadcast drama. The fantastic addition of actor and writer Joe Thomas as ambassador to the Foundation demonstrates the high quality, industry experience available to participants.”

The evening will be an opportunity to hear more about last year’s residency from the participants who took part, and to hear from Chris Young and Joe Thomas about their plans for the year ahead.

Screen Scotland is the dedicated partnership for screen in Scotland. With £20 million from Scottish Government and the National Lottery, Screen Scotland is driving the cultural, social and economic development of all aspects of the sector in Scotland, through enhanced funding, services and support. Screen Scotland sits within Creative Scotland and is a partnership with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Funding Council, working in close collaboration with the sector to ensure its success.

www.screen.scot @screenscots