Student filmmakers created four feature-length Shakespeare adaptations as part of the Co-Operative Youth Film Academy (BYFA) this summer.
500 budding film-makers from the UK sacrificed five weeks of their school holidays to create a collection of feature-length Shakespeare films as part of The Co-Operative Youth Film Academy (BYFA).
Students as young as 14 worked as cast and crew on film-adaptations of the historical classics Henry IV Part 1 and 2, Henry V and, Richard II.
Students were given the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of professional filmmaking, from make-up, wardrobe to professional camera equipment, post-production and even a red-carpet screening (scheduled for 2012).
Kevin Atkinson, executive producer and senior manager at BYFA, stressed the importance of filming Shakespeare: “BYFA empowers and inspires young people and, by mixing original Shakespearian language with new text, these never-before-made screen adaptations aim to engage and grab the attention of a new audience - showing that the works have a place today as strong and relevant as they ever had.”
The Academy’s last project, Julius Caesar is to be screened at this year’s Raindance Film Festival, with the film’s co-directors returning to direct two of this year’s projects.
The films marks another chapter in the six year partnership between the consumer-owned business The Co-operative group and The British Youth Film Academy, which has seen The Co-operative invest £1.2m in youth film projects.
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