UK Youth is looking for entries from individuals or small groups of young people. Films should be on the theme of youth, between two and six minutes long, and there are two age categories: 12 to 15, and 16 to 25.
Entrants to Film for Youth will receive a DVD of advice, made by Ritchie, and there will also be workshops, some of which will be led by the director.
Ritchie said developments in film-making technology have made it more accessible and that it is now easy for young people to turn their film ideas into reality.
"I got involved in film-making much later than I would encourage these kids to," he said.
Entries from Films for Youth will be shortlisted by experts selected by UK Youth. Ritchie will lead a panel of industry figures who will choose the winners, which will be shown at the Waterfront complex in Belfast, Northern Ireland this summer.
- www.filmforyouth.org.
