Colin Young – Friend and world class Film Educator

I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Colin Young. Sandy Mackendrick dubbed him ‘creator of film schools’. Colin was Director of UCLA Film School before he became the founding Director of the National Film & Television School at Beaconsfield Studios.

Colin was an international figure – outstanding film educator, inspirer, ‘fechter’ and master strategist.  We were friends and colleagues. I taught at the school and was on the board of governors; Colin sat on my boards at the British Film Institute and the National Film Finance Corporation. We were always equals. Colin was equals with everybody: students, tutors, greats and ‘near greats’ (his words).

Others will speak and write of his work: I remember his warmth, his humanity, his bear-like hugs, his laughter, his choice of French red wines and Scottish single malts – and the precise way he chopped up fine slices of garlic cloves.

My friend Kerry Crabbe, screenwriter and playwright, who taught at the school, wrote this:

Oh dear. Colin gone.
A wise and generous soul, I found him.
He certainly gave us a place and time to play, experiment and
explore.

Lucky us.
Mamoun