On 3 May, BFI Southbank will host RIP IT UP, a one-day event led by youth that examines 75 years of rebellion, identity, and expression through film. This event coincides with You Are Here, a major pop culture event at the Southbank Centre co-directed by Danny Boyle.
A programme built by the next generation
Part of the BFI Rip It Up season celebrating youth culture across the UK, this Southbank edition is curated entirely by creatives aged 19–29. Drawing from the BFI National Archive, personal collections and the internet’s ever-evolving visual language, it captures on screen how youth culture has shifted from the 1950s to now. With one ticket covering the full day, you’re free to move between screenings, talks and installations, shaping your own route throughout the programme.
What to see
The line-up spans decades and subcultures. Highlights include:
- 360p Relics: Grime on DVD — raw footage from the scene’s DIY beginnings
- Nothing But Time: YouTube’s DIY Filmmakers — early internet creativity on the big screen
- No Rude Boys, No Rave — tracing the roots of British dance culture
- From Beatlemania to Directioners — exploring the cultural force of female fandom
- Rebels in Style — a cinematic journey through Black British fashion
Elsewhere, expect conversations around trans youth culture, digital teenhood, dating as rebellion and the experience of growing up online.
Why it feels different
This is a neat retrospective that moves, overlaps and occasionally contradicts itself, just like youth culture does. From underground DVDs to algorithm-driven platforms, each session reveals how creativity adapts, disrupts and rebuilds.
Who should go
- Film lovers who want something more immersive than a standard screening
- Creatives exploring identity and culture
- Digital natives and the curious
- Anyone drawn to bold, youth-driven perspectives
Plan your visit
- Location: BFI Southbank
- Date: Sunday 3 May
- Tickets: One ticket, full-day access (sessions are first come, first served)
- Browse the full RIP IT UP programme and book tickets on the official BFI Southbank website.
- Explore the wider UK-wide Rip It Up season celebrating youth culture.
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