Young people on our COP TV project

Improving the life outcomes of young Scots through film

Learning through film and learning using film allows young people to get to grips with the main form of communication in the 21st century. It unlocks the literacy of film and moving image allowing young people to understand how to interpret a film text. It’s the ABCs of visual storytelling. Learners are encouraged to discuss and interrogate different texts, such as adverts, clips, short films and features and to go on to produce their own work using this knowledge.

All of our work in schools and during outreach projects allows this interaction. For young people who are interested in taking this further, we can offer pathways to further learning and directly to industry. Many of the young people we work with go on to pursue creative careers. Our work allows young people to safely explore these options with the support of SYFF.

We are proud to be supported by The Sean Connery Foundation. The Sean Connery Foundation grant increases operational capacity, allowing SYFF to expand screen education efforts in three areas of focus: film education in schools, film outreach projects that reach students in need and the execution of their annual youth film festival.

Outreach project at Armadale Academy

“My dad’s career in the film industry happened by accident and changed the trajectory of his life. Discovering the crafts and trades of filmmaking, beyond acting and directing, should not be reserved only for the rich, well-connected or lucky ones. And, making and discerning screen-based storytelling is nothing short of a vital 21st-century skill. It builds creativity, agency and voice, project management skills and empathy, to name just a few. Supporting SYFF, and screen education more generally, as a focus of our foundation is an exciting and natural expression of my father’s legacy that we hope will help to prepare the young Scottish people for the future that lies ahead,”

– SYFF Patron Jason Connery

We are a film charity - so why just read about us when you can watch a film?

What Do We Do?

Impact

Since inception in 2015, SYFF have worked around Scotland. This is SYFF in numbers.


9 Festivals
16 School interventions
20+ Partner organisations
25+ Outreach projects
500+ Children worked with on Education and Outreach projects
900+ Festival attendees (live and online)