OXFORDSHIRE teenagers are being given the opportunity to run, film and report on a countywide film festival thanks to a £20,000 grant.

East Oxford-based film and digital media centre OFVM was given the cash for its Oxford Summerscreen Film Festival from the Mediabox scheme, a Government fund for disadvantaged young people.

The film festival is now in its fourth year but for the first time young people will be able to get directly involved in the organisation and production of the festival, which runs between July 28 and August 5.

Festival co-ordinator Geron Swann said: "This means we can put young people at the heart of a lot of the activities in the festival and I think it will bring a new vibrancy to the event.

"This is the first year we have had young people involved in its organisation, promotion and development."

The money will fund three projects covering the production of films which will be screened at the festival, news crews who will be trained to report on the festival and event management.

Four disadvantaged groups, of young carers and young people from rural communities and deprived urban areas, from around Oxfordshire will each produce two films on a topic of their choice.

The eight films will be part of the Best of the Fest screening at the Phoenix Cinema, in Walton Street, Jericho.

Eight people from schools in Abingdon and Witney will be trained in news-gathering techniques with the support of two media professionals and will cover festival activities, shooting and editing stories for the festival website.

And five pupils at the Cheney School, in Cheney Lane, Headington, will take control of the event, learning event management skills, running the Best of the Fest screening and co-ordinating the production and distribution of the festival DVD.

Mr Swann said: "Without the grant we would not have had the opportunity to bring young people in the way we have done.

"They are pretty chuffed and I am amazed how enthused and motivated they are."

He said the Best of the Fest event promised to be particularly impressive, with people being invited to come in fancy dress as their favourite film characters.

Mediabox, a Department for Education and Skills scheme, has a £6m pot of cash to distribut. Individuals and organisations can apply for between £100 and £80,000 up until January 2008. More information is available by logging on at www.media-box.co.uk