In November 2025, members of the Youth Cinema Network gathered in Trollhättan, Sweden, for two days of meaningful discussions, new ideas and warm exchanges. Hosted with generosity by Novemberfestivalen, the conference offered a space to reconnect and to look ahead at how our network can continue to support young filmmakers in the best possible way.
A major focus this year was the future of the YCN Award. The annual YCN Award recognises excellence in films made by young people. Established in 2016 as a single award, it is now presented to outstanding films in three age groups: up to 14, 15–19 and 20–27. In 2021, an additional category was introduced: the “workshop film,” intended for films created within short-term workshops.
Over long and thoughtful conversations, we explored how to refine the award structure while staying true to the values that define YCN: flexibility, trust and a belief in young people’s creative agency. One of the key decisions was to remove the Workshop category. Instead of isolating these films, members felt the award system should be more open and adaptable. As a result, each age category will now include the possibility of a Special award. These Special Awards offer room to recognise unique artistic approaches, collective processes or innovative storytelling—without locking creativity into a predefined category. This change reflects our wish to keep the YCN Awards inclusive, meaningful and representative of the diversity within youth filmmaking.
We also agreed on a new annual timeline for nominations and voting, which will now run from December to February. The aim is simple: to ensure the YCN Award celebrates the strongest work from a full calendar year while keeping the process manageable for festivals and members.
Another highlight of the conference was the inspiring session “YCN Presents: From Us to You(th)”, a panel designed for young filmmakers visiting Novemberfestivalen. The block brought together voices from across the network to share practical insights and personal stories.
Eivind from Amandusfestivalen (Norway) offered a rare inside look at how film festivals actually work—how films are selected, what programmers look for, how to choose the right festivals, and what young filmmakers can expect when navigating the festival world.
Yanna from Cinemathesis (Greece) presented her projects Youth Gaze and Adventure of Cinema as examples of how creative formats can be adapted in schools, museums, libraries and cultural spaces—and how young filmmakers themselves can take active roles in educating their peers.
Sara and Andrei from Romania shared their inspiring journey of launching the film festival Cinema Paradiso at just 24 years old, with a €1,000 budget, a small team of friends and a big vision—showing that passion, persistence and community can make ambitious projects possible.
The panel became one of the moments that best reflected the spirit of YCN: openness, generosity and a shared commitment to empowering young creators.
As always, discussions also touched on the structure of the network itself. While the formalisation of YCN remains a topic of interest, members agreed that the current flexible, trust-based form is what enables the network to function across different cultures, resources and festival models. The question will remain open for future reflection, including at our next gathering.
Looking ahead, YCN members will meet again in Limerick, Ireland, in March 2026, hosted by Fresh Film Festival. Until then, the work continues—sharing films, creating opportunities and supporting young storytellers wherever they are.
Warm thanks to everyone who contributed to another rich and memorable conference, and to our Swedish hosts who made Trollhättan a place of both productive dialogue and genuine camaraderie.
