YDA World Premiere at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

On November 5, 2014, nearly 300 people crammed into the main theatre at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center (FAC) to see ten new films by the 2014 graduating class of the Youth Documentary Academy.  FAC President David Dahlin introduced the evening by describing his own excitement of meeting YDA youth for the first time over the summer and being blown away by their tenacity and talent.

YDA Founder and Director Tom Shepard introduced the films by thanking partners and donors for bringing a tuition-free intensive filmmaking academy to Colorado Springs, specifically for youth who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunities.  He reminded the audience that YDA students had extraordinary access to stories through their own lived experiences and prepared the audience for an intimate, funny, and sometimes gripping evening of story-telling. Following the screening, and a standing ovation, YDA students took to the stage and answered questions for nearly 45 minutes.

YDA Graduating Class of 2014. From L to R, Sarah Patterson, Garry Moyer, Amadea Katz, William J. Sobolik, Tino Pacheco-Johson, Tom Shepard (Director), Bailey Francisco, Andre Zimmermann, Sandy Schwertfeger, Aaron Burns (Instructor), Destiny Rinder, Malia Romero, and Tara Thomas (Bemis Director)

Don and Shelley Castle and Amy Filipiak greet and seat audience members.

YDA Filmmakers Amadea Katz, Sarah Patterson, and Malia Romero

Filmmaker badges created by YDA Program Associate Karen Walldorf

300 people filled the main theatre at the CS Fine Arts Center for the World Premiere of the Youth Documentary Academy films