NWRC film students and PEACEPLUS showcase community collaboration

The Deputy Mayor, Alderman Niree McMorris, pictured with film students, community representatives and staff from the North West Regional College, at the first showing of the NWRC Peaceplus Community Film Showcase, a short film made by film students at the North West Regional College in the Foyle Theatre at the NWRC. | NWRC

placeholder image — The Deputy Mayor, Alderman Niree McMorris, pictured with film students, community representatives and staff from the North West Regional College, at the first showing of the NWRC Peaceplus Community Film Showcase, a short film made by film students at the North West Regional College in the Foyle Theatre at the NWRC. | NWRC

Funded through the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), the project fulfills the core mission of bringing diverse communities together for common interests.

An innovative collaboration between North West Regional College (NWRC) film students and PEACEPLUS community projects was celebrated in a showcase event at the College’s Foyle Theatre this week.

The Deputy Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Niree McMorris who attended the event on behalf of the Mayor said: “The collaboration is a powerful message of how communities and students can work together to maximise benefit from local voices and skills.

“Ensuring that young adults have opportunities to showcase their talent and perspectives is a really positive sign of active citizenship and engagement. Congratulations to everyone who participated.”

Sue Divin, PEACE Manager with the Council said: “The idea sprang from Derry City and Strabane District Council’s work to engage more young people on having a voice in the city and district. There was an opportunity for a win-win between talented local film students and our community projects which relished extra support with communications – spreading the good news of the work their projects deliver.

“Six of our projects engaged with young people training in media, and collectively they filmed and produced 6 short films. The student film-makers have had a real-life experience with their coursework for their qualifications. PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body SEUPB, is all about getting diverse people and communities to work together for common interests, so the idea fitted perfectly into the ethos of what we deliver.”

NWRC students participating in the project said: “This project was about giving a voice to underrepresented groups and using our skills to make a real difference. For some projects, including work around domestic violence, we had to find sensitive and creative ways to communicate important messages.

“Working with community groups as clients helped us understand their expectations, use our own initiative, and create a final product we were proud of. I also learned a lot about the community and about people from different backgrounds.”

Michael Timoney, Lecturer in Media at NWRC added: “This collaboration gave students a real-world brief and the chance to put their film-making skills into practice in a meaningful way. Working with community organisations meant responding to live client needs, managing expectations, and producing films with a genuine purpose beyond the classroom. It was an excellent opportunity for students to develop both their creative and professional skills.”

Francine Moran, Principal Lecturer in Sustainability and Social Responsibility at NWRC, said: “This project reflects the value of partnership working in creating opportunities for students while supporting important work in the wider community.

“It shows how creative practice can help amplify voices that are too often unheard, while also giving students practical experience of working collaboratively, responsibly and with social purpose.”

For further information and/or to register for the event, email [email protected] Tel: 71253253.