The Intergenerational Foundation (IF), the Guardian and the National Union of Students (NUS) have teamed up to look for the best three-minute films exploring what it’s like to be a young person in the UK today.
In Britain 1.5 million people under the age of 30 are unemployed. In the housing market the average age of a first-time buyer has risen to 37 and one in three adults under 30 are living with their parents. Affordable housing, well-paid and suitable jobs and access to education are the basics of a well-balanced society. But young people are facing huge barriers to achieving any of these. IF works to highlight, identify and rectify the unfair deal dished out to young people, and we want you to tell us your story.
Are you 16-30 and living in the UK? How are these issues affecting you?
Are you full of inspiration and ideas for your life but unable to make a start, get a job or somewhere decent to live? What’s it like to be trapped in short-term rent hell with bad landlords and no sign of escape? How do you cope with tens of thousands of pounds of student debt?
We want your films about being young, gifted and broke.
You could win two weeks’ work experience in a top film production studio, or with the Guardian’s multimedia team, plus £1,000. Or, if you are aged 16-18, there is a cash prize of £1,000 for this age group category winner. Long-listed films will be seen by top documentary filmmaker Christopher Hird and screenwriter and producer Dominic Minghella, who is co-founder of the independent film and television company Island Pictures.
The brief
Make a film that tells us your views on the big picture or gives us a perfectly formed snapshot of your own experiences. Whether your film is a comedy, serious, sad or happy, whether you use animation or live action; high-level film equipment or a webcam, video camera or your mobile phone, we want to hear from you.
Films should be no more than three minutes long (including credits) and any backing music used must be copyright-free (including credits)
They should be in one of the following categories:
• Documentary/current affairs/polemic
• Fiction/drama
All the long-listed films will be judged by a panel of industry experts alongside intergenerational justice campaigner Clare Coatman, and the Guardian’s Comment editor, Becky Gardiner.
How to enter
To enter or find out more (including full terms and conditions) go here:
The competition opens on Wednesday 14 November 2012 and closes at midnight on Wednesday 27 March 2013.
For more information on the work of IF or for hints and tips on what the judges are looking for in the competition, go to: if.org.uk/filmcompetition
Content from the Guardian’s Comment Is Free.
Melissa Knight
