Rip It Up (2026)
The 2026 BFI FAN UK-wide season is Rip It Up – exploring and celebrating the changing face of youth rebellion, culture and expression – from joy to heartbreak – on screen in the UK.
Youth culture in the UK has a wide and varied history, from the defiant rebellion of Teddy Boys, mods and rockers and the many activist movements that have shaped our society to hedonistic self-expression in the music and fashion scenes and the emotional rollercoaster that simply is being a teenager – all of which have been portrayed on screen in a multitude of ways.
The season activity will take place from May – October 2026.
Watch the season trailer:
Rip It Up: Funded Projects
Chapter Arts Centre: The Spirit of ’51, Power to the People!, Hei Mr Urdd!
Dates June – August 2026
Rip It Up at Chapter covers three major areas – The Spirit of ’51, charting the 75 year history of youth culture in the UK with films to activate people’s memories and reflections; Power to the People! – a programme of films chosen and championed by young people with film notes and discussions from their perspectives; and Hei, Mr Urdd! – a selection of films from the Welsh broadcast archive celebrating Welsh youth culture, with Welsh language discussion.
CellB: Video Hud
Dates: July – October 2026
Video Hud: Welsh Youth Culture is a programme that started at CellB exploring Welsh subcultures from the 1990s Cool Cymru movement to today’s emerging DIY creative scenes. Building on a BFI Southbank pilot curated by young programmers Gwenno and Cian, the project combines archive film (Video Hud) with new youth-made work including Glasbren. Through screenings, discussions, live music and participatory activity, the programme (led by the Video Hud team: Yannick, Jake, Gwenno & Cian) platforms authentic Welsh youth voices often underrepresented on screen, connecting past and present expressions of rebellion, identity and creativity while engaging new audiences across North Wales. CellB are TURNING UP THE VOLUME!
The Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre
Dates: June – October 2026
The Riverfront will celebrate what it means to be young in Newport with screenings of Ish (2026), Human Traffic (1999), Pride (2014) and Rocks (2021) that will appeal to Newport’s youth culture and music scene. Alongside the films will be music videos from local bands amplifying the voices of Newport creatives from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Neuadd Dwyfor: Chwala fo!
Dates: May – October 2026
Chwala fo! is a youth led project working with three different youth organisations in Pwllheli to programme and host three bespoke screenings that explore youth culture throughout Wales and the UK. Curated by young people, with bespoke artwork and merchandise created with professional artists and a unique playlist and DJ set to accompany each film – all the activity will be document through moving image and still photography!
