Learn about the new Y-CAM website, how to submit to the 2026 Festival, and apply for the Y-CAM Production Grant! Meet other young filmmakers, share your projects, and get your questions answered.

Join us in Washington, DC for the 13th annual Y-CAM Film Festival on March 13-25, 2026. Submissions are now open!

Open to high school students (ages 14-18), this five-week intensive will guide you through the full film-production pipeline: from concept and script, to shooting and post-production. In this course, you wll form production teams, experiment with camera and sound techniques, editing methods, and finish with a public screening of your short film. Whether you’re just discovering the power of the lens or aiming to polish your storytelling chops, this course gives you the tools and community to bring your vision into focus.

Get ready for an amazing summer in animation! Our five-week course invites young filmmakers aged 12-17 to explore storytelling through motion. You will learn about 2D animation, stop-motion, and clay-animation.

This brand-new, advanced five-week summer program is designed for students ready to push their craft further. The Advanced Filmmaking Program includes a two-week on-location trip (destination to be announced) where you will practice documentary filmmaking in real-world settings (domestic or international). Back on campus, you’ll deepen your production and editing skills, work with seasoned mentors and tackle themes of place, story and impact. The result: a sophisticated short documentary produced by your team, equipped not only with technical know-how but a global perspective as well.