WRITERS
PHOTOGRAPHERS
STORYTELLERS
FILMMAKERS
ADVOCATES
The Youth Documentary Academy (“YDA”) is an intensive, eight-week summer documentary filmmaking fellowship serving teenagers, with under-represented voices, in Southern Colorado from ages 14-18. From initial concept to final edit and distribution, you will learn the process of documentary filmmaking, including hands-on training with digital cameras, sound recording, lighting and interviewing, and digital editing. Working in teams, you will direct your own short documentary film about a topic of your choice.
YDA is a fun – but demanding – experience. You will get to meet professional filmmakers, screen award-winning documentary films, and work with other aspiring young filmmakers in the area. Teamwork and dedication will be essential to participation in the program. Please make sure you are fully available for the program dates (June-July) as attendance is mandatory.
We are looking for students who are interested in using film and storytelling to amplify issues in our community. Previous experience with film and filmmaking is not required.
If accepted into the program, your fellowship includes full tuition (no cost to you) and access to state of the art digital filmmaking equipment. The value of this fellowship exceeds $4,000.
Please encourage youth to apply BEFORE APRIL 16. Extensions will be considered if you contact Tom Shepard (tom@youthdocumentary.org) before the application deadline.
From all of us at YDA, thank you for support of our work and for introducing us to dynamic young people in Southern Colorado.
(NOTE: We are closely following Covid 19 developments. At this time, we are optimistic we will be able to offer much of our production program this summer while following safely guidelines developed in partnership with Pikes Peak Community College, our site partner.) |
