Northern Youth

Northern Youth doesn’t just spotlight the raw energy of northern storytelling on screen—it brings it to life through a powerhouse line-up of intros and Q&As featuring some of the most respected names in British film, journalism and performance. From acclaimed actors like Tina Malone and Chris Bisson, to pioneering cultural commentators such as Terri White and Dave Simpson, and rising stars like Shaun Thomas, each event offers audiences intimate insight and unfiltered reflections on youth, identity and rebellion.

This isn’t just a film season - it’s a conversation, a celebration, and a coming together of northern voices that have shaped cinema and continue to push it forward. Join us in Bradford for unforgettable screenings, live discussions, and a chance to hear directly from those who’ve lived, told and transformed these stories.

The season is curated for Bradford 2025 by Dominic Leclerc, the Bradford-born, raised and based director of Sex Education, Skins and Shameless, and the upcoming Bradford-set feature Flesh and Flamingos about queer northern youth. His passion for complex and daring stories about youth drive this rebellious and raw season.  

The selections in Northern Youth span several decades, from a '60s British New Wave classic celebrating teenage rebellion, to a provocative contemporary film debut about consent. The stories transport us from the back streets of Salford, to the majestic Yorkshire moors; from the Liverpool of a teenage boy's lyrical imagination, to the underbelly of Nottingham's council estates. The stories are unique and bursting with youthful spirit: from a group of '80s skinheads exploring their collective and individual identity, to a teenage girl in Yorkshire pushing at the realms of her sexuality, from a young northern rebel boldly defying authority, to a group of adolescents navigating their bodies and emotions on their first clubbing holiday. Together, these films celebrate northern youth in all its complexity—championing diversity, the individual experience, and both the frailty and wonder of being on the cusp of adulthood.

This season is part of Bradford: A City of Film, a programme of independent film across the Bradford District. Co-Produced by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and National Science and Media Museum with the support of the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery.