YOUNG people in Bolton are invited to take part in the world's biggest youth film festival.

Into Film Festival aims to create a memorable and educational cinematic experience for young people aged between five and 19.

They can enjoy a selection of free screenings and events as part of the UK-wide festival that uses the power of film to captivate young minds and bring learning to life.

In Bolton there will be an exclusive screening of He Named Me Malala at Vue on November 4 at 10am, followed by an interactive question and answer session with Malala Yousafzai, who will appear by video link and take questions from young people via Twitter.

Showing across the borough will also be a selection of films including Paper Planes, The Hundred-Foot Journey, Annie, The Salt of the Earth, Minions, The Water Diviner, Paddington, Penguins of Madagascar, Paddington, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and Pitch Perfect 2.

A spokesman for the festival said: "This is the world's biggest youth film festival which is open to schools, colleges, parents and youth leaders. The programme features new and classic films, workshops and Q&A sessions with industry professionals and supported by a range of educational resources to promote discussion and debate around the films."

Celebrity supporters of the UK-wide event include Eddie Redmayne, Ewan McGregor Carey Mulligan, Michael Sheen, Ralph Fiennes — and former Bolton School pupil Sir Ian McKellen.

Sir Ian said: “Education is a very wide term and it certainly should cover a stimulus and an introduction to ideas and topics and people who otherwise they might not know about. I can’t recommend this venture strongly enough.”

Eddie Redmayne, star in The Theory of Everything was recently announced as a new ambassador for Into Film.

He said: "I saw firsthand the impact that all aspects film can have on young people - the power to inspire, connect and expand our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Often with film we love watching it because it's immersive and it's entertaining.

"But if you look a bit harder and you ask the questions after, it can be so inspiring."

The Into Film Festival takes place between November 4 and 20 and is hosted by education charity Into Film and supported by Cinema First and the BFI through Lottery funding.

Tickets are available to book for free now at IntoFilm.org/festival.