Storytelling & Moving Image Showcase: A Schools Takeover

Join us at Manchester Central Library for the premiere screening of short films created entirely by students from St Peter's RC High School, as part of the Festival of Libraries 2026.

This showcase celebrates the culmination of an eight-week pilot programme delivered by SNE Studios in partnership with St Peter's RC High School and Manchester City of Literature. Throughout the programme, students worked alongside professional creatives to explore the power of storytelling and narrative voice, get hands-on with cameras and editing software, and transform poems by Manchester writers into original short films exploring themes of place, belonging, and community voice.

The evening features:

• Premiere of Student's Poetry Films / written by poets Griot Gabriel, Billie Meredith and Joseph Conway
• Awards Ceremony / Celebrating the students' creative achievements
• Panel Discussion / A conversation on the future of storytelling, media literacy, and young people's voices in the creative industries, including Baka Bah (Executive Director, SNE Studios), Stuart Ashton (BlackMagic Design), Eleanor Simms (MMU, RISE), Catherine Callaghan (St Peter's High School), and hosted by a student from the programme.
• Free food by So Famous / Halal and Vegetarian options available

Photography and videography will be taking place at this event.

This is the proof of concept for a wider vision: an annual moving image and media literacy programme for young people, built on the belief that the next generation of storytellers deserves the tools, the training, and the platform to tell their own stories.

This event is part of Festival of Libraries 2026, which takes place 10 to 14 June across Greater Manchester.

Festival of Libraries is a county-wide celebration of the rich literary history of Greater Manchester, connecting communities across all ten boroughs with events and celebrations happening in local libraries across the region. Whether you are new to libraries or have a well-used library card, you are invited to come along and celebrate your local library and community.

This year's theme is Belonging.

Find out more: manchestercityofliterature.com/event/festival-of-libraries-2026

Check out #FestivalOfLibraries on social media to join the celebrations.

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