Over-60s find their voice with film project

Jennifer Granville and Ann Tobin of the Northern Film School, and Dr Mark Robinson of the School of Health and Wellbeing at Leeds Beckett, received funding from Europe’s lifelong learning programme, Grundvig, for a two year project entitled CINAGE, which saw them work alongside researchers in Portugal, Italy and Slovenia, exploring the EU’s recommendations for healthy, active ageing to see whether or not the needs and concerns of older people are reflected in contemporary cinema.

Using the latest technology available at the Northern Film School, and working with students on the University’s Filmmaking degrees, a team of volunteers from the focus groups then went on to attend practical filmmaking workshops, producing a series of three short films. 

The group will be screening their work and discussing their experiences at the event in Bradford alongside a screening of the students’ documentary film about the CINAGE project. 

Project Leader for CINAGE in the UK, Jennifer Granville, explained: “This exciting pilot project invited a group of local, senior volunteers, with no prior filmmaking experience, to embark on an intensive programme at the Northern Film School at Leeds Beckett University.  The volunteers studied European cinema and practical filmmaking, which resulted in their producing three short films about active ageing. The group has worked with incredible commitment and intensity, and the films are now in the final stages of post-production. We are really excited about being invited to screen these short films and showcase the CINAGE project at the Bradford City of Film International Summit.” 

Entry to the film screenings is free, and takes place from 10am to 12pm at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford. To book tickets, please go to http://bit.ly/CINAGE and for more information about the project please go to http://cinageproject.eu/en/ or contact either Jenny Granville j.granville@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or David Turner d.p.turner@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.