It's about fostering positive self expression in the upcoming generation. It's about fueling aspirations in film, the arts and business in our increasingly communications oriented world. It's about mentorship with some of our region's premiere independent filmmakers. It's about bringing a refreshingly youthful point of view to films on a variety of subjects and timely community issues. It's about hundreds of young people a year who become literate consumers of the media, and see a myriad possibilities.....

For more than a quarter of a century, the Northwest Film Center's Young Filmmakers Program has served youth of all backgrounds and abilities from throughout Oregon and beyond. Supported by community, corporate and foundation contributors, Young Filmmakers is one of the oldest and most respected programs of its kind in the nation.

Through Young Filmmakers:

UNDERSERVED YOUTH from partnering agencies such as the Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement, Self Enhancement, Inc., and New Avenues for Youth use filmmaking to explore their talents and express their perspective on community issues.

THE FLICKER FILM CLUB gathers film-interested metro area teens at the Guild Theatre in downtown Portland for free monthly talks with guest film directors, screenings of student and local indie work and spirited discussion about all things cinema.
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CLASSES & WORKSHOPS offered at the Film Center and other community locations enable youth to try their hands at the tools and processes of cinematography, animation, screenwriting and documentaries with professional filmmaker mentors.
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THE MEDIA ARTS ACADEMY FOR TEENS teaches the basics of film writing, shooting and editing to career-minded teens in an 8-day summer boot camp environment with filmmaker mentors - imparting lifelong lessons in artistic collaboration and group decisionmaking.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MEDIA ARTS ACADEMY FOR TEENS


SCHOOL TO WORK PROJECTS with area high schools allow students to earn credit and prepare for the world of work as they create media productions for community partners such as the Oregon Zoo, Tri-Met and the Multnomah County Department of Health.

THE YOUNG PEOPLES FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL honors the originality and insightfulness of student filmmakers from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Utah and circulates their work to schools, libraries, community groups and cable channels.
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THE MEDIA ARTS ACADEMY FOR TEACHERS brings educators from throughout the state to the Film Center each summer for a week long professional development institute taught by Film Center faculty and accredited by Portland State University.
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RECENT YOUTH OUTREACH PROJECTS
METHAMPHETAMINE AWARENESS PROJECT - The impact of drugs on family and community life is the subject of a film now in production by filmmaker mentors and students from Yamhill-Carlton High School. Our project collaborator is Oregon Partnership, Inc.

CLUB DRUG AWARENESS PROJECT - In addition to the Methamphetamine Awareness Project (MAP) at Newberg High School, the Young Filmmakers Program, once again in partnership with Oregon Partnership, is just beginning production at Jefferson High School in NE Portland. Working with local independent filmmaker, Brian Lindstrom, youth with produce a short video to be used in drug education and prevention activities, statewide.

OREGON LATINO YOUTH VIDEO PROJECT- Five video programs about growing up Latino in Oregon today, created over three years with youth from the Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement, help stimulate cross cultural dialogue as the programs begin distribution this spring to schools, libraries, ESL programs and social service agencies.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OREGON LATINO YOUTH VIDEO PROJECT