Annual Festival

The International Youth Film Festival is a forum for young filmmakers and screenwriters to showcase their work amongst peers in a virtual setting. Each year, the festival will select a theme and all participants are openly welcome. Submissions are free, but must follow the required guidelines outlined in the Submit Films section.

Short of Perfection

Short of Perfection craftily employs voice-over technique and a hand-held camera in following a story with a classic moral: never assume one’s state of mind. As he grasps ideas of happiness, sadness, success, and defeat, Max presents the audience with a beautiful short film.

​-by Max

The Lost Year

The Lost Year is a beautiful foreign film that blends the isolation of the pandemic with an appreciation for the natural world. The striking cinematography and emotional letter further amplify the romantic, yet lonely tone of the film.

​-by Hedydd

Lift-Off

Lift-Off is an fascinating short film about a teenager’s reflection on his relationship with his father, which is further explained with both real and symbolic connections to outer space. As the voice-over plays, a takeoff audio cycles through, counting down the seconds until the rocket ascends towards the upper atmosphere with the orchestra violently colliding.

​-by Max

High School Football Amidst Pandemic - The Pride and Poise

The Pride and Poise details the determination of a California high school football team in returning to the field amid the horrors of the pandemic. Splicing together interviews, football highlights, and real news footage, Beck deftly crafts a relatable film.
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​-by Beck

The String: A Grim Fable

The String: A Grim Fable utilizes black and white coloring technique to build a disturbing horror film with a shocking finale. The unique editing and ominous tone are only amplified by the absence of dialogue.
-by Mathieu

Mothman

Mothman details a teenager’s passion and experiences with light. His world quickly evolves from a small bedroom to the infinite universe, immersing the audience in a visionary masterpiece. Ben creatively uses diegetic flickering of a lighter as the spark for the protagonist’s journey.

​-by Ben

Meat

Meat is an inventive stop motion film detailing a comedic, eccentric story of a strip of bacon.  This outgoing and curious tale by Ivan follows an animated piece of meat as it engages in battle or attends a funeral. Viewers will find themselves laughing at this quirky and amusing film.
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​-by Ivan

Stolen Skin

Stolen Skin is a moving short film that examines personal experiences with sexual harassment. The layered voice-over and Nell’s moving performance strike a deep chord and lead audiences to self-reflect on the importance of respecting others in society.

​-by Nell & Taryn

3:27:00 AM

3:27:00 AM, a thriller by Ryan, tells the story of a vicious crime in the form of stop-motion animation using clay. As the clock draws closer to 3:27 AM, viewers can only hold their breath, wondering what will transpire.

​-by Ryan