Showcasing Student Filmmakers: How High Schoolers Are Leaving Their Mark On the Big Screen
Two students in the AVPA Film Program at Culver City High School, Jake Bossin and Charlotte Sasson, recently had some of their impressive work accepted to two prestigious high school film festivals. Charlotte, a Senior, submitted her film “Flashback” to the All American High School Film Festival, which is about a girl who is soon to turn 18, but deep down yearns to go back to her past and live her childhood again. Jake, a Junior, had his film “A+ Idiot” accepted to both the Riptide Film Festival and the All American Film Festival. The story centers around a high school kid who hacks into his school's grading system in order to give himself better grades.
Both Jake and Charlotte have dedicated much of their high school years to film as presidents of CCHS’ AVPA (Academy of Visual and Performing Arts) School of Film, where they and many other students are able to write and produce multiple short films throughout the year. This program provides students with excellent cameras and other resources to help produce their films, and it encourages students to present their films to prestigious programs and festivals.
Film festivals provide high school students enthusiastic about film-making with an exciting opportunity to display their ideas, get noticed, and even win cash prizes or scholarships. The Riptide Film Festival in Torrance, California, and the All American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF) in New York City—which is the biggest high school film festival in the country—are two exceptional events for aspiring filmmakers. These gatherings offer students the chance to present their work to sizable audiences, network with professionals in the field, and begin the process of pursuing a career in film. So if you're a high school student interested in film, this article is for you.
The Riptide Film Festival gives young and independent filmmakers the chance to showcase their innovative work on the big screen. It includes an award ceremony and two screening blocks: one for independent filmmakers and one for high school students in the area. In addition to offering opportunities for VIP experiences with benefits like lounge access and red carpet photos, the festival gives up-and-coming young talents a stage. The awards include the Golden Crest Award (Best in Show), the Rising Tide Filmmaker award (Best Director), and awards for Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography.
The All American High School Film Festival in NYC, is a much more difficult program to get into, but that’s why it’s one of the most prestigious high school film festivals in the nation. Each year the festival is hosted in New York City. For the upcoming generation of gifted filmmakers, they provide a fantastic platform where students can view incredible works, receive knowledge from top industry experts, interact with the newest technology, win scholarships and technological awards, and, perhaps most importantly, join a community of like-minded individuals and form lasting relationships. The awards at this festival include Best Cinematography, Best Animation, and Best Editing, as well as Best Director and Best Overall Film awards, which can include large scholarships. Additional awards include the Audience Choice Award, genre-specific awards (such as Best Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy), and the Emerging Talent award. Numerous winners also receive equipment and software, such as cameras from brands like Blackmagic Design, subscriptions to services like Adobe Creative Cloud, and scholarships to film schools like the New York Film Academy.
The festivals mentioned above and the AVPA Film program provide amazing chances to develop, connect, and shine, whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker hoping to express your artistic style or you’re just interested in the craft of movie making. Your journey could start today. So grab a camera, start shooting, and take the first step toward seeing your work on the big screen.