YOUNG Irish Film Makers (YIFM) is an innovative film training and production organisation based in Kilkenny City. It offers young people aged from eight to 18 the opportunity to make their own film productions to professional standards of excellence. On April 27th in Kilkenny Castle, the organisation will launch its first full length feature film, Under The Hawthorn Tree, based on Marita Conlon McKenna's recent novel of three Irish children's epic journey of survival during the Famine.

Casting is now under way for the three principal roles and the young actors who are chosen will be announced on April 27th, when a presentation will be made to YIFM president John Boorman. The film will be directed by Mike Kelly, the founder and artistic director of YIFM, and he intends that the film will start shooting on July 1st.