15 Film Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in filmmaking, structured programs can be a practical way to gain experience before college.
What do film programs usually include? Are they worth it?
Many film programs for high school students involve writing scripts, operating cameras, recording sound, editing footage, and collaborating on short films from concept to final cut. Through these projects, you build technical skills, strengthen your portfolio, and learn how production teams function on set. Plus, you get the exposure to working professionals without the long-term financial commitment of a degree program.
What will I do in a film program as a high school student?
Participating in a film program in high school can make your college applications stand out, especially if you want to major in film studies. However, with so many options, including in-person and virtual workshops, choosing the right program can feel overwhelming. We’ve narrowed down the top 15 film programs for high school students, highlighting programs that offer meaningful production experience, mentorship, and industry insight.
P.S. If film is where you're headed creatively, 14 Paid Art and Design Internships for High School Students covers adjacent creative fields worth exploring. And 15 Media Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles, CA is obviously relevant if you're anywhere near LA — a lot of those programs touch on film and production directly.
1. 6-Week Teen Summer Camp for Filmmaking by NYFA
Location: New York Film Academy in New York City and Los Angeles
Cost: $6,592.50
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students aged 14-17
In this six-week filmmaking camp for teens, you will spend the summer learning the fundamentals of visual storytelling in an immersive, hands-on setting. You will work through every stage of film production, including writing, directing, camera operation, lighting, sound, and editing. Throughout the program, you will create three short films, progressing from a silent film to projects with dialogue and sound. You will rotate through crew roles and apply techniques taught in structured workshops. Instruction is led by experienced faculty who will guide you through practical exercises. By the end of this film program for high school students, you will leave with completed films and a clear understanding of how professional film sets operate.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program; financial assistance available
Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Various cohorts including fall, winter, summer & spring
Application Deadline: Varies based on your cohort
Eligibility: High school students and gap year students
Through this remote internship, you will spend eight weeks working with a startup or nonprofit on real projects in fields like engineering, AI, business, design, or research. You will take on tasks that match your interests, contribute to active company initiatives, and learn how teams plan, build, and iterate. You will receive steady mentorship from founders or experienced professionals who will guide your work and help you understand industry practices. The program includes structured check-ins, skill-building support, and a final project that reflects your contribution. Apply now!
3. USC SCA Summer Program
Location: USC School of Cinematic Arts, Los Angeles, California
Cost: $750 (Deposit) + tuition and housing fees vary based on your program
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 25 - August 7
Application Deadline: Not specified (Opens on December 15)
Eligibility: Students above 16 years old from around the world
In this six-week SCA summer film program for high school students, you will explore filmmaking and media arts on USC’s Los Angeles campus. You will take classes in areas like directing, writing, editing, cinematography, animation, and game design while earning college credits. Industry professionals and SCA faculty will teach and guide you through practical projects using professional equipment. You will collaborate with peers in studios and labs, and may engage in screenings and seminars that expose you to current industry work.
4. Lumiere Education Internships
Location: Remote! Attend from anywhere in the world
Cost: Based on your program type; financial aid available
Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in fall, winter, summer & spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to your program type
Eligibility: High school students
Through this research-focused internship, you will work closely with a PhD-level mentor as you study a topic you choose in science, humanities, or social science. You will spend the program designing a research question, reviewing existing studies, and gathering information that supports your project. You will learn how researchers structure ideas, analyze evidence, and write formally. Your mentor will guide you through each stage, offering feedback on your drafts and helping you strengthen your arguments. You will complete a full research paper and have the option to apply for support if you plan to submit it for publication.
5. Summer High School Filmmakers Workshop by NYU & TISCH
Location: NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Cost: $8,008 (Tuition) + $200 (Program Fee) + $1820 (Housing) + $824 (Meals) + $690 (Film Narrative Lab and Insurance Fee) + $75 (Online application fee); Scholarships are available
Cohort Size: 28 students
Dates: July 5 - August 1
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors (rising seniors) at least 15 years old and a current high school sophomore or junior at the time of the application; minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 unweighted scale; U.S. student visas are required for all non-U.S. citizens and/or residents
In this four-week Filmmakers Workshop for high school students, you will spend the summer studying narrative filmmaking at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. You will take part in weekday classes and hands-on workshops focused on writing, directing, shooting, and editing original films. As a student filmmaker, you will work through each stage of production and complete your own projects using professional equipment. Faculty instructors will guide you through creative and technical decisions while you collaborate closely with peers. You will also spend time refining your work outside of class.
6. Summer Film Camps for Teens
Location: New York City | Los Angeles, CA | Vermont and Chicago
Cost: Varies by program
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by program
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students ages 14-18
Through this film program for high school students, you will spend two to three weeks learning filmmaking skills across writing, shooting, sound, and editing. You will write, direct, and edit your own films and also work as part of crews on classmates’ projects. Daily classes and hands-on shoots help you build technical fluency with cameras and dual-system sound gear. Instructors will guide you through creative choices while you collaborate with peers. Residential and day options let you live on campus and join activities. Camps take place in vibrant cities and mix serious craft work with fun excursions and community time, making it a rich experience for teen filmmakers.
7. Teen Council by Museum of the Moving Image
Location: Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria, New York City, NY
Stipend: Applies
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: November through May on select Wednesdays and Saturdays (Film festival on May 8)
Application Deadline: October 17
Eligibility: High school students above 15+ years and enrolled in 11th or 12th grade
In this Teen Council program, you will spend the academic year working at the Museum of the Moving Image as part of a paid, job-development group focused on media arts. You will help plan and support public programs, including film festivals, workshops, and youth events. As a council member, you will assist with event production, curation, and outreach while learning how a cultural institution operates. You will receive guidance from museum educators and work alongside filmmakers, programmers, and other media professionals.
8. UNCSA Filmmaking Summer Intensive
Location: UNCSA, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Cost: $50 (Application Fee); $3,152 - Commuter Student and $5,329 - Residential Student; Scholarships available
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 - July 18
Application Deadline: May 1 (Rolling admissions)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and rising college freshmen; international students are welcome to participate
Through the UNCSA Filmmaking Summer Intensive, you will spend four weeks learning narrative filmmaking on a real movie set at Studio Village. You will study screenwriting, cinematography, directing, producing, and digital editing through hands-on classes and project work. You will develop your own short films and serve in key crew roles on classmates’ projects. Faculty and college teaching assistants provide practical instruction and feedback as you work with state-of-the-art equipment. You will also attend screenings and critiques to refine your creative choices.
9. Youth Filmmakers Camp
Location: University of San Francisco
Cost: $1,300 / $1,250 (SFFILM members). Limited partial and full scholarships available
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Starter Lab - July 13–24; Advanced Lab - July 27 – August 7,
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Teens in the age group 14–18
In this film program for high school students, you will learn filmmaking essentials through interactive classes and hands-on production work. You will choose between a Starter Lab for beginners or an Advanced Lab if you already have experience. You will study screenwriting, storyboarding, production, cinematography, sound, and editing. Camps combine lectures, exercises, discussions, and workshops led by film professionals. You and your peers will write and create group short films, rotating through crew roles such as director, cinematographer, and sound. You will gain technical skills with cameras, lighting, and editing software. The camp ends with a screening of your final films and a red-carpet event.
10. Filmmaking Summer Program for High School Students
Location: Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, Michigan, USA
Cost: $7,265 (tuition)
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 28 - July 18; Session 2: July 19 - August 9
Application Deadline: Accepting applications for both sessions (no specific deadline listed)
Eligibility: High School (Grades 9-12)
Through this summer film program for high school students, you will spend three weeks studying cinematic storytelling at Interlochen Center for the Arts. You will take part in daily classes and hands-on labs covering screenwriting, directing, production, and editing. As a student filmmaker, you will develop and produce your own original film while also collaborating on peer projects. You will receive instruction and feedback from experienced faculty and visiting professional artists. Field production allows you to practice on real locations using industry tools. The program concludes with a formal screening of your completed work, giving you experience in presenting films in a professional setting and understanding how creative ideas move from concept to screen.
11. GFA Summer Camps
Location: Offered through the Georgia Film Academy (USG) — various locations in Georgia
Cost: Starts from $500
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Based on the program you choose. Typically held from June to July
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 9th grade to 17 years old at the start of camp
In these GFA Summer Camps, you will explore filmmaking, screenwriting, and post-production offered by the Georgia Film Academy under the University System of Georgia. You will take part in hands-on training that covers key areas of film craft, such as writing scripts, operating cameras, and editing footage. As a camper, you will work individually and in teams to build skills used in real film and television production environments. Industry-focused instructors will guide you through exercises and creative projects. The camp series aims to give you practical experience in core aspects of media creation and help you understand how different filmmaking roles work together.
12. ArtWorks Summer Internship Program
Location: Miami-Dade College Koubek Memorial Center, Miami, FL
Stipend: $13.00/hour for 180 hours
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June–July
Application Deadline: Not specified (Opens March 15)
Eligibility: Current 9th – 12th graders only; must be at least 14 years old and a Florida resident
Through this film program for high school students, you will join a paid six-week arts internship to work with a professional artist in a creative field of your choice. You can apply to a co-op in areas like film, animation, music, creative writing, visual art, architecture, and more. You will spend weekdays creating original work and building practical skills like communication, teamwork, and time management. Staff will guide you through hands-on projects and workforce skill development as you produce art and collaborate with peers.
13. Fresh Films Weekly Filmmaking
Location: Across 34 locations, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas; virtual option available
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by location
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Teens in the age group 13-19
In Fresh Films Weekly Filmmaking, you will spend one week learning core film skills in a hands-on setting. You will take classes on story development, directing, cinematography, editing, and production. Each day combines instruction with practical exercises that will help you apply what you learn. You will work in small teams to make short films and share your work with others at the week’s end. Instructors include experienced filmmakers who will offer guidance and feedback. The program also includes activities that build collaboration and problem-solving skills.
14. UCLA Emerging Filmmakers Digital Filmmaking
Location: UCLA campus, Los Angeles, California
Cost: $35 non-refundable application fee
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Session A: June 21 to July 10 & Session B: July 12 to July 31
Application Deadline: Not specified (Open on February 15)
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in 10th-12th grade in Spring with a minimum 3.2 GPA
Through this film program for high school students, you’ll spend three weeks studying the creative, technical, and collaborative aspects of filmmaking. You will attend workshops in cinematography, directing, visual storytelling, editing, and post-production workflows. You’ll work in small teams creating original narrative projects and gaining hands-on experience in bringing stories to life on screen. On completion, you’ll receive a certificate for your efforts.
15. Summer Arts Institute
Location: Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 - July 31
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: NYC public school students currently in grades 8–12 and currently enrolled in a New York City Department of Education public school or planning to attend a New York City Department of Education public school for the upcoming school year
In the Summer Arts Institute, you will spend the summer studying an arts discipline in a full-day, in-person program run by the NYC Department of Education. You will work in a focused studio setting and receive daily instruction from teaching artists and arts professionals. You will develop creative and technical skills through structured classes and hands-on projects. You will collaborate with peers, practice professional routines, and build discipline-specific skills through guided assignments. The program emphasizes commitment, attendance, and artistic growth. By the end of the session, you will gain experience working at an advanced level and a clearer understanding of what sustained arts training requires in a professional learning environment.
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