If you are a high school student interested in filmmaking, a summer program is a solid way to start a career in the field or get a real look at how it works. You’ll build practical skills in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, and editing through hands-on projects.
These programs let you use professional cameras, lighting setups, and sound equipment, giving you experience with industry workflows. You’ll go through the full filmmaking process, from writing a script to editing a final cut. Along the way, you’ll also learn to use industry-standard software, with some programs covering DaVinci Resolve for color correction or After Effects for motion graphics.
To make your search easier, here are 10 summer film programs for high school students in California!
10 Summer Film Programs for High School Students in California
1. UCLA Film and Television Summer Institute
The UCLA Digital Filmmaking Summer Institute is a three-week program where you can explore filmmaking through tracks in story development, TV writing, animation, and post-production. You’ll watch film screenings, hear from guest speakers, and visit a Hollywood studio, getting a broad view of the industry while gaining hands-on experience in Los Angeles. You’ll work with professional equipment, collaborate on projects, and even earn UCLA college credit.
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Varied based on the track selected and number of units. Calculate here. Financial aid is available for California students.
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 15. Deadlines are based on session dates. More information here.
Program Dates: June 23 — August 1 | August 4 — September 12. Varies based on selected program
Eligibility: Some tracks are open to high school students.
2. USC School of Cinematic Arts Summer Program
The University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts Summer Program is a six-week course for students aged 16 and older. It offers practical training in areas like film production, screenwriting, and animation. You’ll work alongside industry professionals and USC faculty, gaining hands-on experience while earning college credit.
The program provides access to USC’s facilities, including sound stages, theaters, and production equipment, allowing you to engage directly with the tools and processes involved in filmmaking. Located in Los Angeles, the program allows you to learn in a prominent filmmaking environment.
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $9,416 (4 units); $18,832 (8 units)
Application Deadline: April 30. Applications are accepted on a first-come first-serve basis.
Program Dates: June 20 — August 2
Eligibility: Students aged 16 and up can apply.
3. SFFILM’s Youth Filmmakers Camp
SFFILM’s Youth Filmmakers Camp is a two-week program for teens ages 14 to 18, offering hands-on experience for both beginners and advanced students. You’ll work on screenwriting, production, and editing while creating your short films and taking on different roles on set. The program wraps up with a screening of the films, and you’ll also join workshops and hear from guest speakers with industry experience.
Location: University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $1,250 (non-SFFILM members); $1,200 (SFFILM members). Scholarships available
Application Deadline: Currently accepting applications here. Deadline unspecified.
Program Dates: July 14–25 (Starter Lab) | July 28 — August 8 (Advanced Lab)
Eligibility: Students aged 14–18 can apply.
4. San Francisco High School of the Arts — Future Filmmakers
The Future Filmmakers Camp at the High School of the Arts introduces young creatives ages 10 and up to filmmaking through hands-on projects. You’ll learn photography, videography, and video editing using tools like DaVinci Resolve. Throughout the camp, you’ll shoot scenes, create special effects, and gain experience in each step of the filmmaking process, from concept to editing. With a small class size, you’ll get individual guidance, and the program ends with a camp exhibit to showcase your work.
Location: San Francisco High School of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $2,028 or $2,340, depending on session.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: July 1–19: Session II | July 22 — Aug 9: Session III
Eligibility: Students aged 10 and up can apply.
5. California State Summer School for the Arts Film Program
The California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) Film Program is a four-week opportunity for high school students to explore different areas of filmmaking, including narrative, documentary, and experimental film. You’ll work on hands-on projects and receive guidance from industry professionals as you create your films, helping to prepare you for future studies or careers in filmmaking. The program includes classes in film theory, production, and post-production, while also watching and analyzing over 50 films.
Location: California State Summer School for the Arts, Sacramento, CA
Cost: $4,830 (California residents); $9,977 (out-of-state residents)
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: July 6 — August 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 can apply.
6. Core Filmmaking at SOCAPA
SOCAPA’s Core Filmmaking Camp is a two- or three-week program for teens aged 14 to 18, focused on narrative filmmaking. You will write, direct, and edit your films while also taking on key roles such as Director of Photography or Sound Technician for your peers’ projects. Using professional equipment, you’ll work on several films, starting with short projects to learn the basics of filming and editing. The final project will be a 4–5 minute film inspired by the work of filmmaker Stanley Kubrick.
Location: Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, and various locations in New York City and Vermont
Cost: Tuition ranges from $2,895 — $3,995, and room and board varies from $1,960— $2,940
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: Multiple 2 and 3-week sessions in June, July, and August
Eligibility: Some camps are open to students aged 14–18 while others are open to students aged between 15–18.
7. Summer Film Camp
The Summer Film Camp in La Canada, California, offers a practical introduction to filmmaking for kids aged 9 to 15. Over one week, you will learn basic skills in writing, directing, cinematography, and editing. In the screenwriting class, you will focus on creating a 3-act narrative, and in the editing course, you will work with Adobe Premiere Pro CC.
You will also use professional equipment and receive guidance from instructors while collaborating on projects. The camp wraps up with a screening of your work at the La Cañada Playhouse.
Location: La Canada High School, La Canada, CA
Cost: $799 (early bird); $845 (standard); $880 (late)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: July 28 — August 1
Eligibility: Students aged 9–15 can apply.
8. Sidney Poitier New American Film School Summer Camp
The Sidney Poitier New American Film School offers a film summer camp in Los Angeles for high school and community college students. Held at the ASU California Center, this camp provides an introduction to the fundamentals of filmmaking, with guidance from Poitier Film School faculty.
You will learn key aspects of the filmmaking process, from storytelling and scriptwriting to hands-on camera techniques, producing, directing, editing, and post-production. The program concludes with a screening of select films created by participants.
Location: ASU California Center, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $500 registration fee, including a $100 non-refundable deposit.
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Program Dates: June 24–25
Eligibility: Students aged 15–19 can apply.
9. Warner Bros. Reach Honors Program
Warner Bros. Discovery offers honor-ships and internship scholarship packages to graduating high school seniors interested in careers in media and entertainment. The program has two tracks: Business and Production/Studio Operations, allowing you to choose based on your interest in business or creative/technical roles.
The Business Honors Track is for students interested in corporate roles like finance, human resources, marketing, and communications in entertainment. The Production and Studio Operations Track is for those interested in production, post-production, and studio roles, including content development, sound editing, and studio management.
Location: Varies depending on the internship opportunity.
Cost/Stipend: No cost, stipend provided. Includes paid summer internships and a $5,000 scholarship, paid in $1,250 installments.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship opportunity.
Program Dates: Varies depending on the internship opportunity. (Internships are typically offered during the summer between June and August).
Eligibility: Applicants must be graduating seniors from Burbank or Los Angeles County, have a 3.0+ GPA, and plan to attend an accredited college or university.
10. Fresh Films Weekly Filmmaking Program
The Fresh Films program gives you the chance to work on film projects using professional equipment and collaborate with industry professionals from companies like Sony, Paramount, America’s Got Talent, and Roku. You will gain hands-on experience in pre-production, technical skills like lighting, camera work, and audio, as well as editing.
During the program, you will work on various projects, including filming a social video, shooting a scene for a Paramount film, producing a music video, and developing a documentary with Roku, possibly premiering on The Roku Channel. You will also create a short film with Sony Pictures and produce a competition show.
Location: Available at 30 locations including San Jose and San Marcos, CA.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is provided to the interns.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the location.
Program Dates: Vary by location, with internships typically in the summer. The program runs from January to May for film projects, followed by a premiere in June.
Eligibility: All teens between the ages of 13–19 interested in film, content creation, or storytelling are eligible to apply.
Bonus –
11. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in areas like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more. The program gives you the option to choose between quantitative or qualitative research, allowing you to focus on your preferred approach.
After selecting your subject and research type, you’ll be paired with a professor or PhD scholar from a top university who will mentor you throughout the research process. You’ll work towards creating a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can submit to academic journals for publication. This program provides the chance to conduct research in specialized fields with the support of a leading scholar. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Program Dates: Varies from cohort to cohort
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply.
12. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research opportunity for high school students, offering 1-on-1 mentorship in various subject areas. You’ll be paired with a Ph.D. mentor who will guide you through an independent research project over 12 weeks.
At the end of the program, you’ll have developed your research paper. Topics available for exploration include history, art, literature, culture, and more. This program provides a focused, personalized approach to conducting research at the high school level. Find more details about the application here!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Summer: June – August, fall: September – December, winter: December – February, spring: March – June.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school. Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required! (Note: Students must have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
Image source: University of California, Los Angeles
