Channel Free and Young Filmmakers combine to form Metro Screen’s youth programme, providing access to screen technology, training and mentorship for young people aged 11–16.

Channel Free works with Sydney youth Agencies wanting film, TV, online and portable projects for their At Risk youth aged between 11–16 years old.

Channel Free is dedicated to helping marginalised, disadvantaged or At Risk youth gain access to digital film technology; empowering them to tell their own stories and get their voices heard in the wider community. Participants are provided with free intensive training in digital film and new media production, mentorship with experienced professionals and practical filmmaking experience.

Running projects in filmmaking since 1990 we are the leading youth film training and production facility in Australia. Our programs are industry based, which means you will have hands-on learning with professional equipment and experienced tutors.
 
To view past work click here

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Benefit to Young People
Involvement in a Channel Free project enables young people to develop their creativity, self-confidence, teamwork and technical skills in an inspiring and professional environment and allows them to express themselves through a medium that transcends barriers in academic ability, literacy, language and cultural background. New Channel Free participants join an established collective of over 500 young Sydney filmmakers and become part of the Channel Free community, receiving regular news updates and invites to screenings, special events and online forums.

Download a pdf for a run down of past Channel Free projects below…

Channel Free Past Projects [1177kb]

'Stray' made through a Metro Screen special youth project screened at the KASHISH – Mumbai International Queer Film Festival in Mumbai in April 2010. This is the first mainstream queer film festival to be held in India. http://www.mumbaiqueerfest.com Bartholomew Sammut from XPOSED Film Festival based in Berlin programmed a selection of Queer short films from Australia and New Zealand for KASHISH of which 'Stray' was selected.

TROPJR SUCCESS
2010
Metro Screen film makes Trop Jr finals. 

The world’s largest short film festival, for kids, by kids! has selected ’2 OF ME’ as one of the 14 finalists to headline the annual event which will be held on Sunday February 21. Metro Screen teamed up with Maroubra’s Kool Kids Club to mentor a group of 11 – 16yr olds and produce ‘2 OF ME’

‘2 OF ME’: What happens when you realise there are 2 of you, or 2 of Me? When Braidon discovers, his other half, strange things start to happen. Only his trusty pals with the power to unravel mystery and mayhem will lead him to his other half and Dr Strange’s testing lab.

For more information on Kool Kid’s Club check them out here http://www.ssys.org.au/kool-kids-club
Visit www.tropjr.com/au for festival details, screening venues and regular updates on all things Trop Jr!

2009
Synopsis: Gary and his friend Ashley are mucking about on a social network site when they discover that someone called Tiffany has been making nasty online comments. Mysteriously, Ashley gets sucked into a strange cyber world dimension where she has to confront her nemesis, Tiffany. Gary and another friend, Sarah, are left to try to get their lost mate back into the real world.
Cast: Gary Ward, Arika Brindle, Sarah Simon, June Fernando, Steven Winters, Reegan Carr and Louise Winters.
Length: 4mins 5secs. Writer and Director: the cast. Camera: Skye Carr.
Watch myFace

“This project provided the youth of Redfern with a national platform to express their creativity through short film while adding to the richness of the TropJr event and expanding its accessibility to a cross section of youth.”Project Director for Tropfest Morgwn Rimel

For information on our TropJr winner; Dry Water: The Making Of... which was produced in our 08 July School Holiday Workshop and finalist film 142 Hours was made by Jasmin-Johanna Mobbs who last year won a pace in our April School Holiday Workshop please check out Young Filmmakers.

other success
In 2007 Channel Free worked in co-production with Twenty10 youth support to produce a short drama, Stray which screened at over fifteen international film festivals, was packaged as a DVD resource for young people and picked up a North American distributor!

Project fees are subsidised through Metro Screen and the Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations.


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METRO SCREEN YOUNG FILMMAKERS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
For 11–16yr olds $30 for 12mths.
For details of the truly beneficial benefits plus how to become a member go to our Join section.