Screen Education Edinburgh are excited to be partnering with Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian Football Clubs to deliver film making workshops ‘Xpress Yourself’ for young people aged 12-19 in the City of Edinburgh.

Free taster workshops will take place at Tynecastle and Easter Road, giving participants the opportunity to write, shoot and act, giving them a taste of the filmmaking process thanks to support from Creative Scotland’s CashBack for Creativity programme.

From these taster sessions the most interested young people will move forward to form core filmmaking groups based at each club, with intensive training and support provided by Screen Education Edinburgh to enable the young people to produce short films.

CashBack for Creativity provides young people across Scotland with access to high quality dance, film and music activities. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities programme which reinvests the proceeds of crime back into communities to benefit Scotland’s young people.

Iain Munro, Director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland, said:

“It’s brilliant to see Screen Education Edinburgh partnering with Hearts and Hibernian on delivering the film making workshops.  The powerful draw of these two football clubs will hopefully attract the attention of young people who might not otherwise have taken part in filmmaking activity.

“During 2012 in the Year of Creative Scotland, the CashBack for Creativity programme will create opportunities for over 8,000 budding young filmmakers, dancers and musicians to express themselves creatively and broaden their horizons.”

Graham Fitzpatrick, Screen Education Edinburgh’s Creative Manager said:

“We are delighted to be partnering for the first time, both Big Hearts Trust and Hibernian in the Community to deliver another exciting opportunity for youngsters in Edinburgh.

Learning all the aspects of short film-making, from screenwriting to final edit, the young people participating will devise and produce four short films, followed by longer term support from SEE to enhance their skills and knowledge further, enabling them to pursue an interest in film-making.”

Stewart McGuire, Operations Manager, Hibernian Community Foundation commented:

“This programme is a terrific way to equip young people with skills and tap into their interests through filmmaking.  We are pleased to be working in partnership with Screen Education Edinburgh to unleash the imagination and energy of young people as they gain confidence working together.”

Keir MacCulloch, Music Project  Co-ordinator, Big Hearts Community Trust commented:

"We are delighted to be working with Screen Education Edinburgh for what promises to be an excellent project and a brilliant opportunity for young film makers in Edinburgh"

The taster workshops are being held on Friday 5th October between 1.30pm and 4.30pm at Easter Road Stadium and Friday 12th October between 1.30pm and 4.30pm at Tynecastle Stadium.

Young people interested are encouraged to contact Sarah Drummond at Screen Education Edinburgh to register their interest - sarah@screen-ed.org or 07827 292 379