Y-CAM Film Festival

RSVP

March 13–15

2026

Washington, DC

A free festival celebrating teen creativity.

Come watch the films in competition at the 2026 Y-CAM Film Festival. For free.

Y-CAM Film Festival is your golden ticket to showcase your creativity on an international stage and make your mark as a high school filmmaker. Don’t miss out on this unmatched opportunity to elevate your film career.

Program

Experience the thrill of on-site awards with esteemed judges from the film industry. Get the inside scoop from experts and listen to our captivating keynote speaker talking about the realities of working in the media world. Discover incredible film school opportunities and connect with fellow filmmakers who could be your next collaborators. Join us on March 13–15 2026 in Washington, DC.

RSVP on Eventbrite

Friday March 13, 2026

Apple at Carnegie Library, Washington DC

6:00 PM — 7:00 PM

Filming on Your iPhone

A Special Workshop presented by Apple
RSVP to take part in this Workshop

Friday March 13, 2026

Apple at Carnegie Library, Washington DC

6:00 PM — 7:00 PM

Filming on Your iPhone

A Special Workshop presented by Apple
RSVP to take part in this Workshop

Saturday March 14, 2026

Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market

12:00 PM — 1:00 PM

Workshop: Film School Paths

Representatives and students from MICA, USC, Howard and Bowie State and more provide insights on applying to, getting into and attending film, animation, communications and digital arts programs

1:00 PM — 3:00 PM

Program #1: Films in Competition

Film screenings will be followed by Q&As with filmmakers in attendance.

Finding Rhythm by Janshin Soo
Serena and the Golden Puzzle dir. by Anouk Fortunée
Late for a Date by Jupiter Chapman, Dexter Shaffer
Murder Gum And Fly Fishing by Charlie McGeehan
Human Accident by Ryusei Grové
Drowning by Sydney Wider
Veni Vidi Vici by Max Farahnakian Silverman
To Kidnap a Mannequin by Muhammed Amjad Ali
Mother's Song by Team LIGHTS CAMERA LOVETT!
A Place, One Life by Xiufan Xia
Snooze by Wayne Li

3:00 PM — 4:00 PM

Film and Anime Trivia Games

Join us for some fun trivia and win with great prizes.

3:15 PM — 3:45 PM

Showcase: Y-CAM Animation Program

Learn about the immersive five-week summer course for young creators who want explore the art of storytelling through motion.

4:00 PM — 6:00 PM

Program #2: Films in Competition

Film screenings will be followed by Q&As with filmmakers in attendance.

Second Chance by India Anne Mitchell
What is Art? by Sophia Lee
My Life by Nelan Castillo
Common American Crow by Samuel Zalkin
How it Should Be by Natalie Yerelekian
The Unsuspected by Ingrid Krahling
The Spot by Joy Brown, Kaiya Soleil
Let's Live for Tonight by Chase Bradshaw

Saturday March 14, 2026

Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market

12:00 PM — 1:00 PM

Workshop: Film School Paths

Representatives and students from MICA, USC, Howard and Bowie State and more provide insights on applying to, getting into and attending film, animation, communications and digital arts programs

1:00 PM — 3:00 PM

Program #1: Films in Competition

Film screenings will be followed by Q&As with filmmakers in attendance.

3:00 PM — 4:00 PM

Film and Anime Trivia Games

Join us for some fun trivia and win with great prizes.

3:15 PM — 3:45 PM

Showcase: Y-CAM Animation Program

Learn about the immersive five-week summer course for young creators who want explore the art of storytelling through motion.

4:00 PM — 6:00 PM

Program #2: Films in Competition

Film screenings will be followed by Q&As with filmmakers in attendance.

Sunday March 15, 2026

Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market

12:00 PM — 12:30 PM

Live Streaming: Filmmakers interviews

12:30 PM — 1:45 PM

Workshop: Screenwriting and Creative Writing with Writopia Lab

A light-heartedly serious dive into screenwriting led by Leah Ly and Melanie Howard from Writopia Lab.
Get tickets to participate in this Workshop ($12)

2:00 PM — 2:30 PM

Keynote: Podcasting/YouTubeing

Learn the know-hows from a surprise guest speaker.

2:30 PM — 3:00 PM

Zoom chat with actor JB Blanc

JB Blanc is a highly accomplished stage, screen and voice actor and director with projects in film, animation, video games, anime, and commercials. His animation work includes Arcane, Dragons: Race to the Edge, Scooby Doo, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Avengers Assemble.

3:00 PM — 4:00 PM

Awards Ceremony & Games

Join the ceremony where the members of the 2026 Jury will award this year's prizes.

EXPLORE THE 2026 SELECTION

0119

FILMS

A Place, One Life

Common American Crow

Drowning

Finding Rhythm

How it Should Be

Human Accident

Late for a Date

Let's Live for Tonight

Mother's Song

Murder Gum and Fly Fishing

My Life

Second Chance

Serena and the Golden Puzzle

Snooze

The Spot

The Unsuspected

To Kidnap a Mannequin

Veni Vidi Vici

What is Art?

DIRECTORS

Xiufan Xia

Samuel Zalkin

Sydney Wider

Janshin Soo

Natalie Yerelekian

Ryusei Grové

Dexter Shaffer, Jupiter Chapman

Chase Bradshaw

Lights Camera Lovett!

Charlie McGeehan

Nelan Castillo

India Anne Mitchell

Anouk Fortunée

Wayne Li

Joy Marie Brown, Kaiya Soleil

Ingrid Krahling

Muhammed Amjad Ali

Max Farahnakian Silverman

Sophia Lee

Through Mr. Wu’s storytelling and daily life, audiences are given a glimpse into the historical transformations of Shanghai, as well as the perseverance and optimism of an older generation amid shifting times.

KNOW MORE

Selected Films

A Place, One Life

Dir.

Xiufan Xia

Common American Crow

Dir.

Samuel Zalkin

Drowning

Dir.

Sydney Wider

Finding Rhythm

Dir.

Janshin Soo

How it Should Be

Dir.

Natalie Yerelekian

Human Accident

Dir.

Ryusei Grové

Late for a Date

Dir.

Dexter Shaffer

Jupiter Chapman

Let's Live for Tonight

Dir.

Chase Bradshaw

Mother's Song

Dir.

LIGHTS CAMERA LOVETT!

Murder Gum and Fly Fishing

Dir.

Charlie McGeehan

My Life

Dir.

Nelan Castillo

Second Chance

Dir.

India Anne Mitchell

Serena and the Golden Puzzle

Dir.

Anouk Fortunée

Snooze

Dir.

Wayne Li

The Spot

Dir.

Kaiya Soleil

Joy Brown

The Unsuspected

Dir.

Ingrid Krahling

To Kidnap a Mannequin

Dir.

Muhammed Amjad Ali

Veni Vidi Vici

Dir.

Max Farahnakian Silverman

What is Art?

Dir.

Sophia Lee

Selected Films

A Place, One Life

Dir.

Xiufan Xia

Common American Crow

Dir.

Samuel Zalkin

Drowning

Dir.

Sydney Wider

Finding Rhythm

Dir.

Janshin Soo

How it Should Be

Dir.

Natalie Yerelekian

Human Accident

Dir.

Ryusei Grové

Late for a Date

Dir.

Dexter Shaffer

Jupiter Chapman

Let's Live for Tonight

Dir.

Chase Bradshaw

Mother's Song

Dir.

LIGHTS CAMERA LOVETT!

Murder Gum and Fly Fishing

Dir.

Charlie McGeehan

My Life

Dir.

Nelan Castillo

Second Chance

Dir.

India Anne Mitchell

Serena and the Golden Puzzle

Dir.

Anouk Fortunée

Snooze

Dir.

Wayne Li

The Spot

Dir.

Kaiya Soleil

Joy Brown

The Unsuspected

Dir.

Ingrid Krahling

To Kidnap a Mannequin

Dir.

Muhammed Amjad Ali

Veni Vidi Vici

Dir.

Max Farahnakian Silverman

What is Art?

Dir.

Sophia Lee

Screenings

Angelika Pop-Up
at Union Market

550 Penn Street Northeast
Washington, DC 20002

Special Event

Apple
Carnegie Library

801 K St NW,
Washington, DC 20001