Are you...
🍿 Aged 18 – 26?
🍿 A fan of films?
🍿 Looking to learn more about cinema programming?
🍿 Keen to meet like-minded young people?
Then join the LUMI Programmers to curate, run and host film events for young people at Queen's Film Theatre.
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN- CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Make sure to read the full programme details below, applications close Monday October 13th at midday.
What is LUMI Programmers?
LUMI Programmers is an opportunity for you to take control of a bit of QFT. The group will take the lead in producing film events and content for young people at QFT.
LUMI Programmers have been around since 2019 (so you know there was a while we were a bit quiet). In the past year alone we've organised events such as:
- Our monthly LUMI Presents screenings- decided by majority LUMI Programmer vote, we'll highlight films, directors and issues that are important to you.
- LUMI x NI Science Fest – For the past three years, LUMI Programmers have created out-of-this-world events for NISF including accompanying art exhibitions, artifacts from Ulster Museum and hosting guest Q&A panels.
- LUMI Presents: Women in Iranian Cinema- A month-long mini season of films dedicated to highlighting the contributions of Iranian women to cinematic history, featuring an accompanying zine, stickers and guest speakers such as University of Glasgow's lecturer in Film and Television Studies Dr Zahra Khosroshahi.
- One-off events such as our Internet Horror short film event and Imperfect Cinema: The Principal Enemy (featuring short film Lann, made by two of our LUMI Programmers!)
Now we’re looking for a new group of programmers to come in and create events you genuinely care about and would go to see yourself. Initially we’ll be learning the ropes, what it takes to put together a great event from deciding who, what, when, why, how, to show brilliant cinema and how you make people care about it.
There’ll be monthly opportunities to test out your ideas and skills, then by the end of the year, you’ll have organised something spectacular as a group. We’ll leave it up to you what that looks like, so bring your imagination and amazing programming ideas!
A good example from our friends, Matchbox Cineclub in Glasgow is the supremely successful, KeanuCon. Yes, it's a film festival dedicated to one man, Keanu Reeves.
Along the way, we will create content for social media channels like Instagram and TikTok. We'll also think of ways they could work for growing audiences for our events. 🤳
Are you an aspiring film writer? We’ll give you opportunities to write copy for our films, make your own blog posts and gain knowledge from a film writer working in the industry right now. ✍️
If podcasts are more your thing, you can create an episode of The LUMICast to talk about film and tell your audience more about your screenings. 🎙️🎧👂
Last but not least, we’ll also think about how we can revive archive footage for new audiences and how we can make our screenings as accessible to as many people as possible. 📽️
Who’s it for?
You! (If you’re interested in film and aged 18-26!)
The aim is to have a group of people with all sorts of different interests, but all share a love of cinema (that includes everything from Marvel to that obscure thing only you have watched).
We’re not just for film buffs, although we do love you guys! . You could also be into things like journalism, film, politics, science, theatre, philosophy, business and so on. We hope people from a range of backgrounds apply, our diversity is our strength.
What you get
- Learn about independent cinema programming, marketing and events management.
- Plan, run, market and host film screenings in our cinema- we’ll give you the venue and access to funding to make your own successful events.
- Meet others who enjoy or are passionate about film.
- Develop and strengthen your entrepreneurial and film curating skills.
❌ Please note we will *not* be producing films. Please do not apply if you're only interested in film production.
What we ask from you
- This is a commitment; you must be passionate and engaged.
- Work as a team to organise and run cinema events together.
- Meet as a group between two and four times a month at Queen’s Film Theatre from end of October 2025.
To apply you must be aged 18 to 26 years old. Our meetings are held in-person at QFT so please only apply if you are living in NI and can get to Queen's Film Theatre regularly.
