JEF is new home for youth film in Flanders

On 28 & 29 October JEF was launched: the ultimate contact point for everything and everyone with a professional interest in youth, film and new media. JEF is the result of a merging process involving three organisations: ECFA members Jekino (distributor and film educator) and JEFF (European Youth Film Festival) and the film pedagogical circuit Lessons in the Dark. Now joining forces, JEF has a lot to offer, for example bringing supreme, quality movies into cinema theatres (the first title premiering from JEF’s joint catalogue is the superb Roald Dahl adaptation REVOLTING RHYMES by Jan Lachauer, Jakob Schuh and Bin-Han To).

JEF, based in the city of Antwerp, is made for and by young people, and invites them to participate in workshops and film camps. Also included are platforms for young filmmakers and a yearly festival in February with screenings in four cities. JEF strives for more Flemish youth film production and should be a reference point for producers and exhibitors. General coordinator Iris Verhoeven: “Making youth film a ‘matter of course’ in Flanders, we’re going for nothing less. The team has been working hard to fine-tune JEF’s new profile and for the future we have a couple of wild plans in store.”

JEF’s co-funder VAF (Flemish Audio-visual Fund) has confidence in a future for youth film in Flanders. Spokesperson Erik Martens: “A big organisation like JEF brings together so many experienced people who should guarantee that strong films find their way to the right audience. Titles that will bring more variety into young people’s film diet.”

With two ECFA member organisations in the mix and ECFA Team members Felix Vanginderhuysen, Gert Hermans and Elise Van Beurden in its staff, JEF maintains a strong connection with ECFA.
More about JEF: www.jeugdfilm.be.