“Little Voices” is an animated documentary which explores how lockdown affected a group of teenagers. The characters were made by the young people and then professionally animated to sync with their recorded conversations. The making of the models was a fun way to lighten the discussion on difficult topics of mental health.

Created as part of Shortcut, a European Film Programme centred on film and citizenship education. The aim was to increase young viewers’ knowledge of issues through European short films from different, sometimes distant countries and strengthen teachers’ skills in film education. The project was developed by four European organisations from Poland, Northern Ireland, Czech Republic and Portugal with the support of the European Union Creative Europe Media Programme.

The films explored themes affecting young people today, including equality, racism, migration, poverty, addiction, social media, grief, the environment, sexuality and activism. Alongside screenings and discussions, the programme delivered filmmaking residencies in schools and communities, enabling young people to engage creatively with these topics and produce thoughtful short films reflecting the issues that matter in their own lives.
 

Director - Rachel Hynds
Executive Producer - Marty Melarkey
Producer - Sharron Currie
Animator - Colm McKenna
Editor - Daniel Hynes
Music - Clark Phillips
Additional Modelling - Colm McKenna

This Shortcut film was made in collaboration with Epicentre Armagh Picture This Youth Group.

Characters created and voiced by:

Brogan Cartmill - Sloth
Caitlin Connolly - Dog
Eden Trainor - Fox
Jake Anderson - Cat
Shannon Maginess - Cow/Hedgehog
Brooke McAleer-Kelly - Avocado

Armagh EpiCentre - Picture This Youth Group, Youth Leaders:
Brigeen Corr - Mama Hen
Mark Grimley - Gorilla
Eve Cullen - Frog

Research - Joanna Hynds
News clip footage - Daniel Hynds
News clip voices - Kathryn Wilson, Matt Boyd, John Roulston, Daniel Hynds, Joanna Hynds
Compositing - Colm McKenna, Rachel Hynds

Funded by Creative Europe Media Programme.
Delivered/owned by Nerve Centre.

• Nerve Centre