Youth Media Matters Film Festivals

The Youth Media Matters Film Festival was conceived in 2021 by Colorado Springs School District 11 and the Youth Documentary Academy. Since then, YDA has implemented Youth Media Matters in 12 high schools in Southern Colorado, two universities, the Air Force Academy, and numerous community events.

Youth Media Matters pairs films and their directors from YDA’s PBS series OUR TIME, with teen mental health experts and organizes multiple film screenings with moderated Q&As at high schools.  A committee of youth representing each school is formed to review and curate films for their student body. Pre and post screening surveys are implemented to student participants. Surveys completed so far in El Paso County strongly confirm that Youth Media Matters opens the door effectively to courageous conversations, especially related to mental health and social-emotional wellness. Thank you to new sponsors of this work, including Kaiser Permanente, the H. Chase Stone Charitable Fund, Flying Horse Foundation, the Strub Heer Fund, Arts in Society, the Colorado Springs Health Foundation, Peak View Behavioral Health, and Diversus Health.

For more information about upcoming festivals, contact tom@youthdocumentary.org