Young Liverpool filmmakers create buzz, prepare for Astor film festival

Kaleb Whynott, Desmond Smyth and Thomas Lenco edit parts of The Movbee, one of the films that will be featured at the Astor Academy Film Festival on Friday. (Rick Conrad)

A small group of young filmmakers in Liverpool is already making a splash on the big screen.

Two members of the Astor Theatre Academy’s film club were finalists in the Atlantic International Film Festival’s youth film competition in Halifax last weekend.

Easton Goodwin’s five-minute short Past Echoes and Desmond Smyth’s four-minute November Moon made the final cut from about 40 submissions.

Now, movie lovers in their hometown will be able to watch those two short films and others produced by the club at the Astor Academy Film Festival on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Astor.

About a dozen youth from 13 to 17 years old meet every Monday at the Astor Theatre to learn the craft of filmmaking. It’s the first year for the club, overseen by three adult mentors: Kyle and Lori Smyth and Dan Williams.

Members of the film club have created their own projects and have collaborated on a bigger film.

The shorts and the longer film will premiere at the film festival on Friday. 

QCCR dropped in on the club this week to talk to some of the members while they put the finishing touches on their group project, The Movbee.

You can also vote for Easton’s and Desmond’s films for the People’s Choice Award in the Atlantic International Film Festival’s youth film competition by going to the AIFF YouTube channel.

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Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com