FILM: Youth FX Short Films @ Spectrum 8 Theatres, 3/13/14

Albany’s award winning Youth FX, the teen filmmaking program based at Grand Street Community Arts, will host the premiere of their 2013 short films at 6:30pm on Thursday (March 13) at the Spectrum 8 Theatres in Albany. In addition to world premieres, the evening will also feature several encore screenings of short documentary and narrative films created by Local 518 teens.

Among the wide range of topics the teen filmmakers explored this past year are food justice, video gaming, youth violence and identity. The screening will also feature encore of two award winning Youth FX documentary films: “Tyler,” about Tyler Rhodes who was killed in Hoffman Park in April, 2011 and “Inside the Ring,” an exciting profile of the Quail Street youth boxing program. Both films have won awards at film festivals across the country.

Youth FX founder and program director Bhawin Suchak believes the growth of the program and the success of their films are the result of a high level of creative freedom they are given. “I emphasize that they have a voice and important stories to tell,” says Suchak, “my role is to provide the training along with access to the tools of production, and then I get out of the way and let them create.”

Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with the Youth FX filmmakers. Tickets are $10; $7 for students, and all proceeds raised from the screening will support the 2014 Youth FX summer program.