YOUNG FILM PROGRAMMERS

Our Deal Young Film Programmers group was formed during the 2020 lockdown, with support from the National Lottery through the BFI Audience Network.

The mission was to recruit local film-lovers aged 18-29 and train them to programme their own Deal Film Club events. Despite not being able to meet in person, the group met remotely via series of exclusive online workshops created by experienced YFP mentor, James Collie (Folkestone Doc Fest, Violet Pictures).

If you are interested in joining the Deal Young Film Programmers please email hello@dealfilm.club

Meet some of our current Deal Young Film Programmers:

Emily Mortimer-Webb

My favourite film is currently probably Sorry to Bother You.

My first cinema experience that I actually remember was in 2007. I've been taken / going to the cinema since infancy, so there was never a specific time when I was 4 or 5 where the lights went down and I was never the same, but this one I remember because it was the first film I actively wanted to see. I knew it was coming out and I wanted to see it, I got excited and specifically asked for it. It was Spiderman 3. The Sam Raimi one. With the emo montage where he does a finger gun dance. I stand by it.

Callum Benson

My favourite film at the moment is probably Session 9

My first cinema experience Seeing the 2006 animated film Monster House with my cousin. Whilst I wasn’t necessarily a huge fan of horror at the time, the film’s gleeful embrace and subversion of horror movie conventions was formative in developing my obsession with the horror genre..

Lola Cook

My favourite film One that has been on a constant rewatch for me this year is Over The Moon the 2021 Oscar Nominated Film by Glen Keane. The cinematography, the score and space-theme are all things that I thoroughly enjoyed, and the cultural side of the story was incredibly important. For me it fully deserved its nomination.

My first cinema experience was when I was 6 years old. It was also the first time I had ever been to the cinema which was in July 2006. I went to the local Cineworld in Enfield (London), and my family took me to see the Disney/Pixar film Cars because it had just come out. This is not only a strong indication for my love of animations to this current day, and especially seeing how my current favourite is an animation, it brings this notion full circle. It was this first time I had seen a movie, especially a Disney/Pixar one, that full-screen and not on my tiny portable DVD player! My Dad had said in earlier years, it was the first film I sat down to watch without moving, or getting up, which not only for a 6-year-old was impressive, but I think for me was really important in my current life, on how I respect the cinema, and appreciate the viewing experience, which isn't just for me, it is for everyone around you. I reflect on this often, just knowing that 6-year-old me was fully immersed in the experience, the film and the atmosphere, cinema brings me all of those things. Even now when I get to attend I think back to that moment, of just allowing cinema to take over my experience, regardless of how well-made the film is or not, cinema really captures this enjoyment and expression of how we are, and what we love. To this day Cars is still on my list of Disney/Pixar films, I regularly watch, it’s fun, it’s silly, it's not meant to be academy award-winning, but for me it sums up what cinema is all about, experiencing these range of emotions from your own perspective, and more importantly getting to share that experience with those around you who equally appreciate it. My Dad unfortunately passed away in 2015, and Cars was one of the only films I ever got to see at the cinema with my Dad, it holds a lot of special memories for me, and even that experience itself holds a lot of weight in my own sense of understanding and appreciating that the cinema is more than just showing films, it can be crucial in our adaption of ourselves, and our interests.