A Tyne Valley Film Festival screening at Queens Hall Studio. See our full programme here.

Child poverty at 30%. Youth services cuts at 80%. The UK’s highest crime rate committed by 10–17-year-olds. The highest suicide rate in men aged under 45 in the UK. The stark realities of life in the council estates of Sunderland, North East England.

Steven France, community activist and mixed martial arts coach (MMA), haunted by the suicide of step-father Mickey, found MMA as his saviour from the trappings of these very estates. Determined to force change from within. His objective; to do the same with a group of troubled youngsters, each facing their own unique challenges. Be it battles with drugs, unemployment and poverty, the weight of terminal illness or the trials of immigration and having to abandon family, thousands of miles away.

‘Poised’ is a high stakes, human interest tale set over a year in the lives of Steven and the four youngsters, as they battle their demons in a search for hope and to not become yet another statistic blighted by their environment.

Filmmaker Toby Robson will join us for an in person post film Q&A.

Please note this screening takes place at Queens Hall, Studio. Please arrive to the venue in good time.