Film & Video Programs & Competitions for High School Students

Film programs for high schoolers include summer production intensives, youth film festivals, and media-arts mentorships covering directing, editing, and screenwriting.

A finished short film that has screened anywhere is a portfolio piece most applicants simply do not have.

30 verified programs match this page; 18 of the featured listings are completely free; 12 can be done online.

Featured programs

Browse 30+ curated programs for high school students:

• Sony World Photography Awards Youth Competition — World Photography Organisation: Showcase your creativity in this free international photography competition for grades 7-12. Build your portfolio, gain recognition, and strengthen co
• Canadian Short Screenplay Competition — Canadian Short Screenplay Competition Inc.: An international contest recognizing outstanding short film screenplays, with prizes, promotion, and industry exposure.
• SCAD Pre-College Summer Art & Design Intensive — Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): Immersive pre-college summer program at SCAD campuses in Savannah and Atlanta for high school students to build a portfolio and study art, design, fil
• ArtCenter College of Design Pre-College Program — ArtCenter College of Design: Intensive pre-college art and design program at ArtCenter in Pasadena for high school students to explore industrial design, graphic design, film, ill
• Ocean Awareness Contest First Place — Bow Seat: Art, writing, film, music about ocean conservation. $1,500+ prizes.
• Student Academy Awards — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: Oscars for student films. International, domestic, and specialty categories.
• Quill and Scroll International Writing, Photo Contests — Quill and Scroll: Showcase your talent in writing, photography, or multimedia through this online competition for grades 10-12. Build your portfolio and boost college a
• NSPA Photojournalism Contest — National Scholastic Press Association: Showcase your photography skills in this high school photojournalism competition. Develop visual storytelling expertise and boost college applications
• Young Animator Awards — Animation Magazine: Animation competition for young artists. Various animation techniques.
• C-SPAN StudentCam — C-SPAN: Engage in a national documentary competition exploring public policy issues. Build media skills, boost college applications, and showcase your creativ
• Fangoria Blood Drive Short Film Competition — Fangoria: A horror short film competition from Fangoria spotlighting emerging filmmakers in blood-soaked, practical-effects-driven storytelling.
• American Association of Physics Teachers High School Physics Photo Contest — AAPT: Unique competition combining physics concepts with photography
• The Christophers Video Contest for College Students — The Christophers: Create impactful videos on social change in this virtual competition for high school seniors. Build creative skills, enhance college applications, and
• Virginia Film Festival — Virginia Film Festival, University of Virginia: An annual Charlottesville film festival featuring screenings, panels, and a student film competition for emerging filmmakers.
• NYU Tisch School of the Arts Summer Programs — New York University: Discover hands-on summer programs in film, theater, and dance for high schoolers in grades 10-12. Build skills, gain college-ready experience, and pur
• Slamdance Screenplay Competition (Student Division) — Slamdance Film Festival: Screenplay competition at filmmaker-run festival known for discovering new talent. Winners receive industry recognition and festival access. Alternati
• Student Animation Festival Awards — Various Organizations: Showcase your animation skills in this hybrid competition for high school students. Build your portfolio, gain recognition, and boost your college app
• Jacob Burns Film Center Creative Culture Summer — Jacob Burns Film Center: Intensive filmmaking program near NYC. Create professional-quality short films. Industry connections.
• Sundance Ignite Fellowship — Sundance Institute: Transform your passion for filmmaking with this free fellowship for high school students. Gain mentorship, funding, and hands-on experience to boost c
• Boston University Summer Journalism Academy — Boston University: Intensive journalism, writing, and photography summer program at Boston University for rising juniors and seniors.
• University of Rochester Pre-College Programs — University of Rochester: Pre-college programs at the University of Rochester covering business, engineering, film, and medicine.
• Boston University Academy of Media Production — Boston University: Media production and film summer program at Boston University for high school students.
• Expanding the Walls — The Studio Museum in Harlem: Free eight-month teen photography program at the Studio Museum in Harlem ending in a museum exhibition; participants earn a $1,000 stipend and a Canon
• National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) — NFFTY: Major festival for filmmakers 24 and under, held each spring in Seattle with a virtual option; high schoolers can submit shorts in six categories (ent
• Ghetto Film School Fellows Program — Ghetto Film School: Free multi-year filmmaking fellowship for teens in New York and Los Angeles: 1,000+ hours of college-level training, industry mentors, international t
• AAPT High School Physics Photo Contest — American Association of Physics Teachers: International contest from the American Association of Physics Teachers: high school students submit a photo plus a written physics analysis of the ph
• Frist Art Museum Teen Film Camp — Frist Art Museum: One-week summer film intensive at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville, run with the Nashville Film Festival: rising 10th–12th graders shoot and edit a 5
• Reel Works Filmmaking Labs — Reel Works: Free after-school and summer filmmaking labs in Brooklyn for NYC teens ages 14-19: documentary, narrative, and animation tracks with one-on-one mentor
• Doc Films Student Engagement & Screenings — Doc Films, University of Chicago: Student-run film society at UChicago offering screenings and volunteering opportunities, occasionally including youth-focused programs.
• New York Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) — New York State Education Department: Tuition-free residential arts summer program for New York State high schoolers, offering intensive training in dance, music, theater, film, and visual

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