The kids are alright as a feast of film hits big screen in Leeds

Children in Leeds will have the perfect opportunity to swap the small screen for the big screen at Easter when the opening credits roll on the Leeds Young Film Festival.
My Life as a Courgette.My Life as a Courgette.
My Life as a Courgette.

Organisers of the Leeds City Council-backed festival have announced that it will take place this year from April 10 to 20.

And they are hoping that the event’s action-packed programme will encourage families across the city to ditch their tablets and the TV and instead experience the delights of a visit to the cinema.

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The festival’s schedule for 2017 will be spread across four separate ‘zones’. They are:

* Reel Kids at Hyde Park Picture House (April 10-20), which will feature screenings of films including My Life as a Courgette, The BFG, The Jungle Book, The Princess Bride and The Rescuers;

* Animation Central at the Carriageworks theatre complex (April 14-17), which will host workshops from leading industry figures such as Lego art director Tori Davis;

* Whooo’s in the Hooose?, a Dr Seuss-themed experience at Leeds Town Hall (April 14-17) celebrating the American children’s writer whose stories have been turned into much-loved films such as Horton Hears a Who! and The Cat in the Hat.

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* VR Zone at Leeds City Museum (April 14-17), a feast of virtual reality fun for families that will include a 360-degree planetarium-style cinema called The Dome showing “jaw-dropping” content from NASA.

Leeds Young Film Festival director Debbie Maturi said: “We are a unique Easter experience for families, offering great value activities throughout Easter weekend at The Film House, the VR Zone and Animation Central.

“And of course, at the heart of it all, are our film screenings at Hyde Park Picture House.

“We strive to offer a family-friendly cinema experience at really affordable ticket prices, including the amazing array of films from around the world you don’t get to see anywhere else.”

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Taking place this year for the 18th time, the celluloid extravaganza is being supported by the BFI Film Festival Fund and Arts Council England.

Coun Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s lead member for culture, said: “Year after year, Leeds Young Film Festival brings young people and families together for an event that celebrates film with an exciting and engaging programme of events.

“The festival is also a great way of capturing young people’s imaginations and introducing them to the world of film in the hope that it will inspire them to carry on Leeds’s proud tradition in the industry.”

Tickets for the Leeds Young Film Festival will be on sale from the www.leedsyoungfilm.com website from 5pm today.

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Purchases can also be made in person or over the phone from the city centre box office at Leeds Town Hall from 9am tomorrow.

For the latest updates on film announcements, visit the event’s Facebook or Twitter pages or sign up to the festival newsletter at www.leedsyoungfilm.com.