YOUNG FILMMAKERS PROGRAM

Dedicated to fostering creativity in the next generation of storytellers, Austin Film Festival established its comprehensive, art-education program within its inaugural year. Now known as the Young Filmmakers Program, AFF provides a year-round exploration of creativity, collaboration, and storytelling to Texas students ages 9 to 18.

The Program consists of four key initiatives: the Young Filmmakers Competition, its Annual Summer Film Camp, the Festival and Conference Scholarship Program, and its signature, in-school, Digital Storytelling program, which provides English and Language Arts, TEKS-aligned curriculum on the arts of screenwriting, narrative podcasting, and film production.

At Austin Film Festival, we believe all students have an important story to tell. We are committed to providing the tools and educational resources in order to support, encourage, and inspire Texas’s next generation of storytellers.

From more information about our Young Filmmakers Program please contact Young Filmmakers Program Director at yfpdirector@austinfilmfestival.com or call 512-478-4795.

DIGITAL STORYTELLING

Digital Storytelling, the Program’s signature, in-school initiative, provides English and Language Arts TEKS-aligned curriculum on the arts of screenwriting, narrative podcasting, and film production. Offered at no cost to participating schools, Digital Storytelling encourages students to harvest stories from their own lives, transform those stories into scripts, and experience the challenging, yet rewarding process of turning personal narrative into art.  Throughout the six-week units, students undergo all stages of the creative process, thereby gaining valuable experience at the intersection of personal accountability and teamwork. Our goal is to provide teachers the necessary tools, training, and support system to implement Digital Storytelling into any classroom. Furthermore, Digital Storytelling curriculum utilizes the Festival’s On Story Archive, which includes insights from industry luminaries.

Formally launched in 2005, Digital Storytelling has served thousands of Central Texas middle and high school students, focusing on schools with sizable at-risk populations. By encouraging students to write scripts in Colloquial language that expresses their unique cultural perspective, Digital Storytelling bridges the gap between English Language Learners and Media Arts, all while validating each student’s artistic expression.

To learn more, click here.

FESTIVAL & CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP

Through AFF’s Festival and Writers Conference Scholarship program, the Festival awards nearly 450 Festival badges to local students and educators. The Festival creative team curates student-specific programming aimed at deepening students’ understanding of the entertainment industry and illuminating paths to creative careers.

Previous programming has included discussions on the craft of filmmaking and screenwriting with the creative minds behind Spy Kids, Rugrats, Over The Hedge, and Groundhog Day. These panels are designed to give students exclusive access to industry professionals in an informal setting.

To learn more, click here.

YOUNG FILMMAKERS COMPETITION

Showcasing, both local and national student work, our Young Filmmakers Competition is FREE to young filmmakers ages 13-18. At the Young Filmmakers Showcase, selected animated, documentary, and narrative short films from all around the world will play on the big screen in front of a supportive Festival audience.

Selected filmmakers will receive Badges to the 2023 Austin Film Festival and Writers Conference, which are intended for an accredited writer of the film and his/her legal guardian. AFF’s appointed jury will award one film the Young Filmmakers Program Jury Award.

To learn more, click here.

SUMMER FILM PROGRAM

AFF’s Summer Camp Classes and Teen Workshops are a deep dive into creativity, collaboration, and storytelling.

Led by professional filmmakers, all AFF Summer Film Program students walk away with a finished project whether it be a short film, script, or even an interactive game! Furthermore, students have the unique opportunity to see their films on the big screen (and walk the red carpet!) at the annual Summer Film Showcase. Students also participate in inspirational panel discussions with visiting guest speakers, who in the past have included industry luminaries such as Pamela Ribon (writer Moana) James V. Hart (writer Hook), Rita Hsiao (writer Toy Story 2), Robert Mark Kamen (writer The Karate Kid), Justin Marks (writer The Jungle Book), and Caroline Thompson (writer The Nightmare Before Christmas).

To learn more, click here.