Y-CAM is a new name for a festival that started in 2014 as a single event at the DC Independent Film Festival (DCIFF), then became a one day festival, and is now a stand-alone two day annual High School Film Festival. It is designed as an in-person place for emerging filmmakers in their teenage years to screen their work in competition, share filmmaking and animating experiences, expand their horizons and develop skills. Each year includes workshops, paths to careers, conversations with established actors and directors. The program is run by DCIFF staff working with a team of high school coordinators who host the event and help with film selections, programming and outreach.
Films are at FilmFreeway each fall with selections made the following January. Y-CAM is held in the Spring each year. Filmmakers from anywhere in the world who are in their teens or who made their film while in high school are welcome to send in their films for consideration. If invited to attend, we work with you to help you come to Washington DC to take part in the festival and we ask you to understand that you are expected to attend.
Y-CAM is a platform that provides resources, opportunities and a film community for emerging teenage filmmakers, animators, audio-visual technicians, screenwriters, video game creators and moving image artists. Y-CAM is the youth program division of DCIFF, the DC Independent Film Festival, which has been based in Washington DC, USA, since 1999.
The platform includes:
Annual Y-CAM Film Festival: a weekend dedicated to exhibiting films made by teenagers from across the world with networking, career path discussions, workshops, games and a good time. The Y-CAM Festival, which first started in 2012, brings together filmmakers from across the world to attend in-person; supports career, college and intern opportunities; allows filmmakers to meet people in the professional film industry and exhibits quality emerging filmmaker work.
In-Person Summer Courses in Filmmaking, Animation and, coming in 2027, Sound Engineering: We welcome applications from across the United States and beyond to attend our hands-on, small group programs taught by professionals in the film industry.
Production Awards: the Y-CAM Production Awards and Grants provide young filmmakers across the Mid-Atlantic with the opportunity to bring their creative ideas to life. Awarded three times a year, these opportunities help youth storytellers gain experience, confidence, and visibility by funding new films, podcasts, and moving-image projects. More than funding alone, they serve as a launchpad for the next generation of creators to share their voices and shape the future of storytelling.
A Discussion, Conversation and Opportunities Hub hosted at Discord.
Up-to-Date Online workshops and resources.