Monday, June 3rd – Friday, July 26th
2024
AGES 9 – 18
Registration for all camp class sessions is now open!
First Baptist Church located at 901 Trinity St. Austin, TX 78701
We offer full day combo camps for Filmmaking 101 and Claymation Creations. Learn more about our Combo Camps below!
Join us for a summer of creativity, collaboration, and fun during our 22nd annual Summer Film Program. We offer hands-on, one-week camp classes and workshops in the arts of screenwriting, filmmaking, editing, stop-motion animation, and more starting Monday June 3rd – Friday, July 26th! Open to young creatives ages 9 – 18!
Surround your young writer or filmmaker (ages 9-18) with like-minded collaborators as they are guided by professional instructors who help ignite their creativity, inspiration, and learn essential screenwriting, filmmaking and editing skills.
See what classes and camps we offer below!
FILMMAKING 101 AM SESSIONS
FILMMAKING 101 AM Sessions
$275 for all sessions except Session 5, which is $250 due to shortened week.
Note: You receive a $25 discount if you are a AFF Member/Summer Film Camp Alum. Please contact AFF at 512-478-4795 for discount code.
This session introduces young creatives to the thrill and challenge of filmmaking. Campers learn basic filmmaking skills then team up with their peers to make their very own short films using provided equipment. With the wide variety of available shooting locations at First Baptist Church, campers can truly bring their stories to life in this class. At the end of the week, campers will receive a link to their group’s work. No previous filmmaking or video editing experience is required.
Available Sessions:
Session 1: Monday, June 3 – Friday, June 7
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Session 2: Monday, June 10 – Friday, June 14
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Session 3: Monday, June 17 – Friday, June 21
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Session 4: Monday, June 24 – Friday, June 28
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Session 5: Monday, July 1 – Friday, July 5 (no class on July 4th)
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Session 6: Monday, July 8 – Friday, July 12
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Session 7: Monday, July 15 – Friday, July 19
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Session 8: Monday, July 22 – Friday, July 26
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
$250 – $275Select options
FILMMAKING 101 PM SESSIONS
FILMMAKING 101 PM Sessions
$275
Note: You receive a $25 discount if you are a AFF Member/Summer Film Camp Alum. Please contact AFF at 512-478-4795 for discount code.
This session introduces young creatives to the thrill and challenge of filmmaking. Campers learn basic filmmaking skills then team up with their peers to make their very own short films using provided equipment. With the wide variety of available shooting locations at First Baptist Church, campers can truly bring their stories to life in this class. At the end of the week, campers will receive a link to their group’s work. No previous filmmaking or video editing experience is required.
Available Sessions:
Session 1: Monday, June 17 – Friday, June 21 Session Postponed
1:30 – 4:00 pm
Session 2: Monday, June 24 – Friday, June 28
1:30 – 4:00 pm
Session 3: Monday, July 8 – Friday, July 12
1:30 – 4:00 pm Session Postponed
Session 4: Monday, July 15 – Friday, July 19
1:30 – 4:00 pm Session Postponed
Session 5: Monday, July 22 – Friday, July 26
1:30 – 4:00 pm Session Postponed
$275Select options
CLAYMATION CREATIONS
CLAYMATION CREATIONS
$275
Note: You receive a $25 discount if you are a AFF Member/Summer Film Camp Alum. Please contact AFF at 512-478-4795 for discount code.
Claymation Creations introduces campers to the exciting world of stop-motion animation. Using cameras, clay, and basic software applications, campers learn to tell stories frame-by-frame. To complete each stage of production, campers work in collaborative groups to design storyboards, build worlds out of clay, and edit their films. This class includes a mix of classroom and lab time. Campers receive a link to their group’s Claymation project after each week. No previous animation or video editing experience is required.
Available Sessions:
Session 1: Monday, June 3 – Friday, June 7
1:30 – 4:00 pm
Session 2: Monday, June 10 – Friday, June 14
1:30 – 4:00 pm
Session 3: Monday, June 17 – Friday, June 21
1:30 – 4:00 pm
Session 4: Monday, June 24 – Friday, June 28
1:30 – 4:00 pm
Session 5: Monday, July 8 – Friday, July 12
1:30 – 4:00 pm
Session 6: Monday, July 15 – Friday, July 19
1:30 – 4:00 pm
Session 7: Monday, July 22 – Friday, July 26
1:30 – 4:00 pm
$275Select options
FULL-DAY COMBO CAMP (FILMMAKING 101 + CLAYMATION CREATIONS)
FULL-DAY COMBO CAMP (FILMMAKING 101 + CLAYMATION CREATIONS)
$495
Note: You receive a $45 discount if you are a AFF Member/Summer Film Camp Alum. Please contact AFF at 512-478-4795 for discount code.
A combination of the two half-day camps (Filmmaking 101 + Claymation Creations), at a discounted price. For the overall filmmaking experience, these week-long sessions can’t be beat! In between classes, campers will have a supervised hour to eat lunch, participate in guided activities, and watch movies. As with all sessions, campers will work together to make their films, and receive a link to their work at the end of camp.
Available Sessions:
Session 1: Monday, June 3 – Friday, June 7
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Session 2: Monday, June 10 – Friday, June 14
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Session 3: Monday, June 17 – Friday, June 21
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Session 4: Monday, June 24 – Friday, June 28
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Session 5: Monday, July 8 – Friday, July 12
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Session 6: Monday, July 15 – Friday, July 19
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Session 7: Monday, July 22 – Friday, July 26
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
$495Select options
SCRIPT TO SCREEN FULL-DAY
FULL-DAY SCRIPT TO SCREEN
$495 for all sessions except Session 5, which is $450 due to shortened week.
Note: You receive a $45 discount if you are a AFF Member/Summer Film Camp Alum. Please contact AFF at 512-478-4795for discount code.
This workshop is for teens who want to learn how to make narrative-driven short films. Campers will discover the power of storytelling and transform their ideas into proper screenplays before creating fully-realized short films. Over the course of this class, students will learn the fundamentals of screenwriting, directing, cinematography, sound design, and editing. At the end of the week, campers will receive a link to their group’s work. No previous filmmaking or video editing experience is required.
PLEASE NOTE: The June 17-21 and July 8-12 Script To Screen sessions will have a Horror/Sci-Fi theme. This workshop is for teenagers who love all things supernatural, extraterrestrial, and spooky. Campers will discover the power of storytelling and transform their ideas into proper screenplays before creating horror/science fiction narrative-driven short films. Similarly, the June 24-28 Script To Screen session will have a Comedy theme. This workshop is for teens who love all things comedic in nature (slapstick, romantic, buddy comedies) and want to produce a comedy short film.
Available Sessions:
Session 1: Monday, June 3 – Friday, June 7
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Session 2: Monday, June 10 – Friday, June 14
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Session 3: Monday, June 17 – Friday, June 21
NOTE: This session has a horror/sci-fi focus. Details above.
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Session 4: Monday, June 24 – Friday, June 28
NOTE: This session has a comedy focus. Details above.
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Session 5: Monday, July 1 – Friday, July 5 (no class on July 4th)
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Session 6: Monday, July 8 – Friday, July 12
NOTE: This session has a horror/sci-fi focus. Details above.
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Session 7: Monday, July 15 – Friday, July 19
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Session 8: Monday, July 22 – Friday, July 26
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
$450 – $495Select options
2-WEEK SCRIPT TO SCREEN AM CLASS
2-WEEK SCRIPT TO SCREEN AM CLASS
$495
Note: You receive a $45 discount if you are a AFF Member/Summer Film Camp Alum. Please contact AFF at 512-478-4795 for discount code.
This workshop is for teens who want to learn how to make narrative-driven short films. Campers will discover the power of storytelling and transform their ideas into proper screenplays before creating fully-realized short films. Over the course of this class, students will learn the fundamentals of screenwriting, directing, cinematography, sound design, and editing. At the end of the week, campers will receive a link to their group’s work. No previous filmmaking or video editing experience is required.
Available Sessions:
Session 1: Monday, June 17 – Friday, June 21*
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
*no classes Saturday or Sunday
Session 2: Monday, July 8 – Friday, July 19*
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
*no classes Saturday or Sunday
$495Select options
See full schedule below
Ways to Save on Camp
Become an AFF Member
Join AFF for a year’s worth of exclusive advanced screenings, film premieres, script readings, roundtable events, Conversations in Film, party invitations, and more. Purchase your membership and receive discounts on Summer Film Camp!
$36 – $1,200options
Call our office at 512-478-4795 to get the Member promotion code for your Summer Film Camp purchase!
AFF Scholarships
Our hands-on Summer Film Camp fills up fast. And because we like to make sure every kid has a chance to attend, we hold a bunch of tuition scholarships in reserve. These scholarships are available on a financial-need basis. Film is for everybody. Camp should be too.
Complete online form below.
SUMMER FILM PROGRAM FAQ
Where is camp held this year?
In-person camp classes and workshops will take place at First Baptist Church located at 901 Trinity St. Austin, TX 78701. First Baptist is centrally located with easy pick-up and drop-off options.
Safety Protocol?
We are committed to keeping everyone attending AFF this year safe and informed. As we’ve seen, a lot can change in just a few short months; we will be adjusting according to the climate of the situation.
*This policy is subject to change as updates are made by city and state authorities.
What are the dates for the 2024 Summer Film Program?
In-person camp classes begin June 3 and run through July 26. Most are one-week courses, except the three two-week Script To Screen AM classes.
Who teaches the camp classes and teen workshops?
At Austin Film Festival’s Summer Film Program, we want students to make the best films they can. That’s why our professional instructors are hand-chosen to lead students through every part of the filmmaking process, from conception through final product. Both virtual and in-person instructors have backgrounds in both arts education and filmmaking so they can give students the guidance and support they need to truly shine.
Why Summer Film Program?
At AFF’s Summer Film Program (both virtual and in-person), we focus on two things: storytelling and collaboration. We believe that for any budding artist, these two things are of utmost importance. Storytelling allows students to express themselves, while giving them a vehicle through which to practice their developing filmmaking skills (be it directing, camera operating, sound recording, or editing). Collaboration is a challenging but necessary aspect of filmmaking, since every production is made up of many crew members playing different, but equally important, roles.
Benefit of teen filmmaking workshops?
Perfect for older students looking ahead to college admissions these week-long sessions are a great addition to a young creative’s resume or portfolio. All students will walk away with an advanced understanding of screenwriting and a finished short film. Students will experience all essential aspects of the filmmaking process from first draft, to being on set, through editing to help both brooding and deepen student’s interest in screenwriting and film.
What should my camper expect?
Led by professional filmmakers, all AFF Summer Film Program students walk away with a finished short film created by their group! Furthermore, students have the unique opportunity to see their films on the big screen (and walk the red carpet!) at the annual Summer Film Showcase. Students also participate in inspirational panel discussions with visiting guest speakers, who in the past have included industry luminaries such as Pamela Ribon (writer Moana), James V. Hart (writer Hook), Rita Hsiao (writer Toy Story 2), Robert Mark Kamen (writer The Karate Kid), Justin Marks (writer The Jungle Book), and Caroline Thompson (writer The Nightmare Before Christmas).
Guest Speakers
Summer Film Camp’s Guest Speaker Series features Hollywood veterans, rising stars, and Austin filmmakers. 2023 Speakers have not yet been announced, but take a look at our past Guest speakers:
John Langmore, Photographer and Film Director/Writer
John Langmore’s relationship with the working cowboy traces back to his great-grandfather who was one of Colonel Teddy Roosevelt’s original Rough Riders. His father, Bank Langmore, published The Cowboy in 1975 and is considered one of the pioneers of contemporary western photography.
Beginning at the age of twelve, John spent twelve summers cowboying on some of the country’s largest ranches before becoming a lawyer. John quit the legal profession to pursue his passion for photography and last year authored Open Range – America’s Big-Outfit Cowboy, published by Twin Palms. He is also the co-director on the recently completed feature-length documentary film, Cowboys – a documentary portrait. John’s photography has been widely published and exhibited, including an exhibition together with his father’s work at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Jason Neulander, Writer, Director, and Producer
Jason Neulander is a writer, director, and producer based in Austin, Texas. Neulander received his BA and MA in theater from Brown University. He founded and was the artistic director of Austin’s Salvage Vanguard Theater from 1994 to 2008. Over his tenure he directed and produced more than 50 world-premiere plays, musicals, and operas. His play THE INTERGALACTIC NEMESIS (2010), which he wrote, directed, and produced, toured to more than 200 venues around the world, including runs on Broadway and sold-out performances at the Kennedy Center, and was adapted for television by PBS. His first short film HIT & RUN (2015) was selected for the Texas Filmmakers Showcase. His second short Buttercup (2016) was broadcast nationally on PBS’s “On Story”. His feature film debut Fugitive Dreams is currently in post-production. “A seemingly inexhaustible ability to surprise. And thrill. And horrify. And amuse. And intrigue.” — The Austin Chronicle
Here’s a sampling of other past guests:
Dave Reynolds
Dave Reynolds is an award-winning screenwriter best known for Finding Nemo, The Emperor’s New Groove, and A Bug’s Life.
Mighty Coconut
Mighty Coconut is an Austin-based content studio specializing in animation, visual effects, and interactive. The studio will be represented by Carrye Glazar, Mighty Coconut’s Head of Original Content, and Tim Cunningham, Director & Executive Producer. Read more about the team and their award-winning work here.
Ernest Cline
Austin-based screenwriter and novelist Ernie Cline has been writing for the last twenty years, including the films Fanboys and Thundercade.
Cindy McCreery
Cindy McCreery has sold feature projects to New Line Cinema, Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, National Geographic Films, Warner Brothers, Lionsgate and MGM! She most recently co-wrote two episodes of the SyFy Channel Show, Haven, that aired in the fall of 2014.
Robert Mark Kamen
Kamen is a well-renowned writer and producer who has been creating major motion pictures for over twenty-five years! He is best known for his film franchises The Karate Kid, Taken, and Transporter.
Tom Schulman
Schulman re-wrote Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and turned it from a drama to a comedy in just seven days. He is best known for his Academy Award winning screenplay Dead Poets Society.
What needs to be brought to camp?
- Snacks are provided during camp, but if your camper requires specific food/beverages, you must provide them
- Lunch if your camper is attending a full day camp
- Water bottle (we will provide small water bottles for each camper. There are also plenty of water fountains located around the school)
- Sweatshirt or long sleeve shirt (classrooms can get cold)
- Pencil and paper (for brainstorming and taking notes)
What needs to be completed in order to attend camp? How do I get the Camper Packet?
Our Summer Film Camp Coordinator will email a digital Summer Film Camp Packet to all registrants as camp approaches. The packet forms will be sent late May, and it will need to be completed before the beginning of camp (June 3, 2024) or your camper will not be able to attend.
Will my camper have a chance to show their film?
Our Summer Film Camp Showcase (a free screening of all completed camp projects) will be programmed at the end of the summer – typically the first week in August. Date/Time for 2024 is currently TBA.
***Parents will receive an email closer to this event with showcase times, RSVP information and more.***
Can I drop my camper off early?
Yes, you can drop off up to 30 minutes early.
How do I drop off/pick up my camper?
Please refer to your camper packet for more information about pick-up and drop-off. If you have more questions, please call us at 512-478-4795, or email YFP Director at yfpdirector@austinfilmfestival.com.
How late can I pick up my camper?
Parents (or authorized persons) arriving later than 30 minutes after the completion of a class section will incur a late fee of $10 and an additional $1 per minute if later than 45 minutes after the completion of a class.
What if my camper has a driver's license?
Students who are 16-18 years old with a valid driver’s license and vehicle are not required to wait for parents to sign them out but must sign themselves out before leaving the church grounds.
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SUMMER FILM CAMP REFUND POLICY
Austin Film Festival has adjusted our refund policy regarding AFF’s in-person Summer Film Camp Programs.
If you purchased a Summer Film Camp for 2024, a refund of 80% of class tuition is offered only with written notice, which may be received by email to refunds@austinfilmfestival.com and yfpdirector@austinfilmfestival.com from the parent or legal guardian of an enrolled student received no later than Friday, April 26th, 2024. After this date, all purchases are final and will not be refunded.
Students who cannot attend camp due to pandemic exposure will have the option to switch to a different in-person camp session or virtual camp session at no cost, camp capacity/space permitted.
Please note that in the event that Austin Film Festival must cancel a camp or workshop session, a full refund will be honored to all those who have purchased.
Our Young Filmmakers Program Director will contact you with further information within the next few weeks for your child’s registration information.
WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AT OUR
2023 SUMMER FILM PROGRAM!
Our 2023 Summer Film Program has officially come to a close. This summer was filled with creativity, collaboration, and lots of storytelling. We are sad to be at the end, but we cannot wait for next summer! Thank you to everyone who helped make camp possible!
SPONSORED BY:
Austin Film Festival is funded and supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department
and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.