Nothing conveys the magic of cinema like animation, and the genre plays a huge part in First Cut! Youth Film Festival each year. Through an engaging, accessible, and fun programme of workshops, screenings, and discussion, our Animation programme impacts young people across Youghal and Midleton, Co. Cork, all over Ireland. 

First Cut’s Animation programme is kindly supported by Youghal Credit Union.

Schools Workshop Screening

In 2023, First Cut! Youth Film Festival provided animation workshops to over 300 young people in thirteen schools in Youghal and Midleton: Bunscoil Mhuire, Gaelscoil Choráin, Kyle National School, Kilcredann National School, Clonpriest National School, South Abbey National School, Park National School, Pobalscoil na Tríonóide, CBS Midleton, St. John The Baptist National School, Midleton College, St. Colmans Community College and Midleton Educate Together National School.

In Youghal, working with tutors Lisa McDonald, Kayde Middleton and Bekah Bustos, the workshops covered all the basic principles of hand drawn animation.

In Midleton, Flip Fest with animator Belinda Walsh enabled participants to create their own hand drawn flip books and optical toys.

The resulting short animations got their first screening at the 2023 festival!

First Cut! would like to thank all participating schools for their support of these workshops which were made possible through the generous support of The Arts Council, Cork County Council, Youghal Credit Union and the YIFM Network.