The public is invited to 鈥淣ot A Birthday Party鈥� a free admission film screening of local youths鈥� short films at the Sid Williams Theatre on Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.

The film screening will feature six wonderful short films made by the participants of the Comox Valley Art Gallery鈥檚 Youth Media Project.

The CVAG鈥檚 Youth Media Project is a program made to help connect youth to the wonders of film-making; both the creative and technical aspects of it, while setting them up for possible employment opportunities based on their individual interests. This program runs over 13 weeks with multiple workshops and many opportunities for the participants to build connections within the community.

CVAG YMP is open to anyone who is 16-30 years of age and interested in learning film and pays a full-time minimum wage to participants while they attend.

The five participants in this program had the opportunity to write, direct, and edit one personal film of their creation, as well as a work placement film for an outside organization in the Comox Valley. They also received film industry training as crew members and used this training to act, direct and shoot each other鈥檚 films.

鈥淚n this program, there are all kinds of films on a variety of topics, all worth checking out. Every participant helped out in every aspect of filmmaking over the 13 weeks and their skills will be put on show at the screening,鈥� says Amelia McQuiilan, a graduate of the program.

The YMP inspires youth to make change within the community, focusing on how they can use film as a way to inspire others as well.