Leeds Young Film Festival 2025: A New Programme for Young Audiences

Leeds Young Film Festival (LYFF) returns for its 26th edition from 5–21 April 2025, bringing a brand-new programme for children and young families across Leeds. Taking place at Hyde Park Picture House and other venues in the region, LYFF continues its mission to make cinema more accessible and affordable for young audiences, particularly those in marginalised communities across the North of England.

Part of the Leeds Film family, LYFF has always championed representation on screen, ensuring that children from all backgrounds can see themselves reflected in cinema. With a focus on affordable pricing and a carefully curated selection of global family films, the festival creates opportunities for young audiences to experience diverse storytelling on the big screen.

Returning for 2025 is Movie Club, LYFF’s filmmaking crash course designed specifically for young people. Launched in 2023, Movie Club has given participants hands-on experience in concept development, on-set production, and film editing, helping them bring their creative ideas to life. In partnership with Screen Yorkshire, Movie Club is back this year with even more opportunities for young filmmakers in Leeds—whether they’re interested in storytelling, film production, or simply unleashing their imagination.

Movie Club is designed to equip young creatives with filmmaking skills rarely available to children at this age. With platforms like YouTube and TikTok shaping how young people engage with media, many are already creating short-form films without realising the power they hold as storytellers. LYFF aims to bridge this gap, offering young people insight into the filmmaking process and the range of careers available in the industry. At its heart, Movie Club is about empowering young creatives, giving them the tools to develop their skills and gain confidence in their own storytelling abilities.

LYFF 2025 also sees the return of our immersive VR cinema for families and young people. While film screenings remain at the festival’s core, VR storytelling has become an exciting way to engage young audiences in new media. This year, we’re unveiling a brand-new VR project that will take our VR Cinema to the next level, offering even more opportunities for audiences to experience innovative, immersive narratives.

Leeds Young Film Festival runs from 5–21 April 2025, with a full programme of films, VR experiences, and Movie Club activities to be announced soon. Follow @leedsyoungfilm on social media or sign up for our mailing list to be the first to know when tickets go on sale!