Northern Ireland Screen and Springboard Present Beyond Twenty Five – A Reflective Documentary on Youth, Peacebuilding, and Legacy
Date Posted: April 10, 2025
Springboard, in collaboration with Northern Ireland Screen, is proud to announce the release of Beyond Twenty Five, a powerful new documentary produced by Cameron Turley. The film explores the legacy of the Good Friday Agreement 25 years on through the lives of a generation born in its aftermath.
Featuring archival footage curated by Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive, the film captures the reflections of young people growing up in a post-conflict Northern Ireland. Through personal stories, Beyond Twenty Five sheds light on the challenges these young voices have faced and the importance of peacebuilding programmes in promoting a more positive shared society.
In 2023, as part of the Our Lives Our Legacy project, Springboard brought together young people from across Northern Ireland to examine the legacy of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and its influence on their lives. The group facilitated an event at Crumlin Road Gaol, where discussions centred on the divisions that still exist, and, more importantly, the shared values that can unite communities.
“We are in a situation where issues such as mental health struggles are at an all time high, organisations like Springboard help bridge that gap” said Aoife, a young leader on the programme. “This is a legacy issue and one that young people have inherited. If we are to learn from the Belfast Good Friday Agreement we need to create better systems to ensure young people’s voices are heard. On the Our Lives Our Legacy programme we had a hope of a better future that explored shared understanding, peace and reconciliation.”
Cameron Turley, producer of Beyond Twenty Five, said, “I’ve worked with Springboard for three years, engaging with young people who’ve grown up under the shadow of the Good Friday Agreement. Their experiences inspired this documentary, which explores how a post-GFA generation views the peace process and how it shapes their identity. Through Springboard, I’ve seen how young people navigate Northern Ireland’s complex past while looking to the future. This film gives them a platform to share their voices—voices often missing from conversations still dominated by those who lived through the Troubles. By focusing on youth, the documentary bridges past and present, showing how decisions made 26 years ago continue to resonate today.”
Francis Jones, Head of Heritage and Archive at Northern Ireland Screen, said:
“Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive was incredibly proud to collaborate with Springboard on Beyond Twenty-Five. This powerful and timely documentary draws on archival material to explore how the past continues to shape the present. Rooted in the importance of making space for new voices, it contributes meaningfully to ongoing conversations about peace and reconciliation.”
You can view the film here on the Northern Ireland Screen Digital Film Archive website
