LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: CO-OPERATIVE CALLS FOR ENTRIES TO 2013 FILM FESTIVAL

Budding young Danny Boyles and Kathryn Bigelows who dream of making a movie are being urged to submit their short films to the 2013 Co-operative Film Festival.

Young people, aged 22 and under, have until Friday, 31 May, to get their entries in for the prestigious annual festival. It will be held in partnership with Bradford’s award-winning National Media Museum on Wednesday to Friday, 17 – 19 July, 2013.

Entries to the festival, which is now in its 47^th year, should be no more than six minutes long and will be viewed and selected by a panel of film and media professionals.

There are no categories to limit the imagination, and film makers are encouraged to tackle issues that concern them, through drama or documentary, animation or comedy, to music video or silent movie.

Not only will the film makers get to see their work on the big screen at this major national venue, but they can also take part in events and masterclasses hosted by film experts, and receive feedback on their film.

Festival organiser Laura Boonham, The Co-operative Group’s National Projects Assistant, said: “The Co-operative Film Festival keeps going from strength to strength, with the quality of films and the talent on show during the event getting better and better every year – and the 2013 festival promises to be no different.

“This major national film festival has helped showcase the talents of thousands of youngsters, from across the UK and Europe, and we urge both experienced movie-makers and those who have never made a film before to give it a go.”

Jo Quinton-Tulloch, Head of the National Media Museum, added: "We are delighted to be working in closer partnership with The Co-operative Film Festival this year and welcoming it back to the National Media Museum in Bradford, the world's first UNESCO City of Film.

“We can't wait to see what stories young people across the UK want to tell through film and to give them the opportunity to see their work screened in our unique surroundings, home to the world's earliest colour film and the first moving footage ever created in the UK."

In the run-up to the festival, the latest news can be found on the Festival website at www.co-operative.coop/filmfestival, on the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thecooperativefilmfestival or via Twitter by following @coopfilmfest. Films can also be entered online – see the website for further details.