Northern Youth

A film season at Pictureville Cinema, curated for Bradford 2025 by Dominic Leclerc.

FilmsYour stories

30 May - 13 Jun 2025

Northern Youth is a celebration of northern young identity in cinema, curated for Bradford 2025 by Dominic Leclerc.

Bradford is one of the UK’s youngest cities with a significant portion of its population under 25, and this season champions the bold and blistering spirit of youthful northern characters, actors, film-makers, writers, and mavericks. Punky and poetic, powerful and punchy, this season celebrates Northern Youth in all its glory.

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 in 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.

How To Have Sex (15) + intro and panel discussion

Friday 30 May, 7pm

Runtime 91 mins
Director: Molly Manning Walker
Starring: Mia McKenna-Bruce, Samuel Bottomley, Shaun Thomas

Molly Manning Walker’s award-winning depiction of the agonies and ecstasies of young adulthood kickstarts our Northern Youth season.

Introduced by Bradford-born director Dominic Leclerc.

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This Is England (18) + intro and panel discussion

Saturday 31 May, 6.30pm

Runtime 100 mins
Director: Shane Meadows
Starring: Stephen Graham, Vicky McClure, Thomas Turgoose

A story about a troubled boy growing up in England set in 1983. Based on real life experiences of director Shane Meadows.

Actor Andrew Ellis (Gadget) joins journalist Terri White for a post-show screening Q&A.

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The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (12A) + intro

Sunday 1 June, 1.30pm

Runtime 94 mins
Director: Tony Richardson
Starring: Tom Courtenay, Michael Redgrave, James Bolam

Tom Courtney gives a star-making role in this perfect piece of sixties kitchen sink drama.

Introduced by leading British film historian and gender studies expert Melanie Williams.

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My Summer of Love (15) + intro

Friday 6 June, 7pm

Runtime 82 mins
Director: Paweł Pawlikowski
Starring: Emily Blunt, Paddy Considine, Natalie Press

Yorkshire-based drama charting the unlikely friendship that develops over the course of a summer between working-class Mona and well-to-do Tamsin.

Introduced by Wema Mumma, BFI Flare curator and fierce champion of queer cinema.

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BIFA Presents: East Is East (15) + panel discussion

Saturday 7 June, 6.30pm

Runtime 96 mins
Director: Damien O’Donnell
Starring: Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Jordan Routledge

This BAFTA-winning comedy-drama takes a wry look at a Pakistani chip shop owner’s efforts to raise his kids amid cultural tensions in 1970s Salford.

Chris Bisson, Emil Marwa, Sudha Bhuchar and host Nick Ahad join a post-show panel discussion.

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Three young people sit on a sofa, eating bacon from a plate.

The Long Day Closes (PG) + intro

Sunday 8 June, 1.30pm

Runtime 85 mins
Director: Terence Davies
Starring: Leigh McCormack, Marjorie Yates, Tina Malone

A moving, poetic coming-of-age tale from British auteur Terence Davies set in mid 1950s Liverpool.

Introduced by Brookside and Shameless star Tina Malone who reflects on her early role in Terence Davies’ masterpiece.

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Control (15) + intro

Friday 13 June, 7pm

Runtime 122 mins
Director: Anton Corbijn
Starring: Sam Riley, Samantha Morton, Craig Parkinson

Sam Riley stars in this stylish profile of Ian Curtis, the enigmatic singer of Joy Division.

Guardian music journalist Dave Simpson introduces, bringing his deep knowledge of Joy Division and northern music culture.

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Add to our social wall

To celebrate the Northern Youth season, we’d like to hear your Northern Youth stories! Share your stories, images, film moments and songs about growing up in the North on our social wall below either by clicking ‘Add Post’ or scan the QR code. You can also listen to our Northern Youth playlist on Spotify – send in your song suggestions to @mediamuseum.

The social wall will be displayed on the Pictureville and Bradford2025 websites, in the National Science and Media Museum, and on the cinema screens at the Northern Youth screenings.

 

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.

Discover more film at Bradford 2025

Part of Bradford: A City of Film

Film4 Presents – Hot Milk

Join award-winning director Rebecca Lenkiewicz and producer Christine Langhan for a special preview and post-screening Q&A of this remarkable directorial debut, ahead of the MUBI general release.

A behind the scenes image of a film shoot. The camera is in the foreground focussed on two people walking up some stairs.
Part of Bradford: A City of Film

FORGE Shorts

New films from Bradford writers and directors.

A black and white image of a man in a car. He wears a determined expression.
Part of Bradford: A City of Film

The Ceremony [Gala Screening and Q&A]

Jack King

An award-winning debut feature set in Bradford.

Black and white image of a group of people in a pub. A man sitting close to us is drinking a pint of beer.
Part of Bradford: A City of Film

The Local (working title)

Kim Hopkins

Step inside a Bradford landmark…