If you’re a high school student interested in cinema and visual storytelling, a summer film program or internship can provide hands-on experience and insight into the filmmaking industry. These programs cover various aspects of filmmaking, including producing, directing, writing, editing, cinematography, and other technical roles.
A film program or internship can help you gain experience in production, post-production, marketing and distribution, film festivals, animation, cinematography, screenwriting, and other areas. Under the guidance of industry professionals, you will have the opportunity to learn about concept development, use necessary equipment and technologies, collaborate on real projects, and build connections.
Here’s a list of 10 summer film programs and internships for high school students.
1. Tisch Summer High School Residential Program—Filmmakers Workshop
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: The cost is $11,101 plus a $75 non-refundable application fee. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: December 13
Dates: July 6 – August 2
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (rising seniors) who are at least 15 years old and have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
The Tisch Summer High School Residential Program is a four-week pre-college program for rising high school juniors worldwide. Based on the Tisch undergraduate curriculum, it includes structured classes, projects, and professional training. The program awards four to six college credits and concludes with presentations or showcases. You can choose from artistic tracks such as Dance, Drama, Production & Design, Dramatic Writing, Filmmaking, Game Design, Photography and Imaging, or Recorded Music.
The Summer Filmmakers Workshop for High School Students at the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television offers professional training in cinematic techniques and storytelling. You will learn visual storytelling through hands-on instruction with digital cameras and editing workstations. Classes run Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., covering coursework, training, and production. Some creative assignments, like writing or editing, may be required evenings and weekends.
2. UCLA’s Film and Television Summer Institute – Traditional Animation
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,986; scholarships are available
Application Deadline: June 13
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12, college students, and aspiring filmmakers, including international students
The Traditional Animation Summer Institute is an online program with live course meetings, hands-on exercises, and guest speakers. You will learn traditional hand-drawn animation using a Wacom tablet or mouse and complete projects with Pencil2D and Adobe Premiere. The program covers writing, storyboarding, and drawing for animation, culminating in the creation of your animated film.
Under the guidance of UCLA faculty, you will complete exercises covering the entire animation process from storyboard to post-production. The program concludes with a virtual screening of final projects, a closing ceremony, and a networking event. As part of the Summer Institute Animation Symposium, you will hear from industry professionals, including writers, directors, and animators from major studios such as Marvel Animation, Sony Pictures Animation, Illumination, Warner Animation, and Adult Swim. You will receive a letter grade upon completion. More information about academic credit is available here.
3. Internship Opportunities with the Atlanta Film Society
Location: Atlanta Film Society, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate. Internships are unpaid, but participants receive a free membership.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis between sessions.
- Spring: Mid-December
- Summer: Mid-April
- Fall: Mid-August
Dates:
- Spring: January-May
- Summer: June-August
- Fall: September-December
Eligibility: Students who are at least 18 years old can apply, with internships for high school seniors available on a case-by-case basis.
The Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS) is a non-profit media arts organization that hosts film screenings, educational programs, year-round internships, and industry events, including an annual screenplay competition and the Academy Award-qualifying Atlanta Film Festival each spring. During the internship, you’ll gain experience in organizing a film festival and working for a non-profit, member-based media arts organization. You will assist with administrative tasks, membership services, and event planning and coordination. While the program provides connections to the local film community, it does not offer internships in film production.
Internship opportunities are available in areas such as Business Development, Film Programming, Outreach, Screenplay Programming, Specialty Programming, Media/Video/Tech, Marketing/Communications/Design, Operations, Film Festival, and Community Relations/Content Writing. Detailed internship responsibilities can be found here. You’ll be required to work a minimum of 10 hours per week during office hours and be available for select after-hours and off-site events.
4. USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) Summer Program
Location: University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Tuition is $9,416 for 4-unit courses and $18,832 for 8-unit courses, with additional fees including a $65 non-refundable application fee, a $300 non-refundable program fee, and a $175 health center fee. Housing costs range from $2,107 to $2,967.
Application Deadline: April 30
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Eligibility: Students aged 16–18
The USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) Summer Program allows high school students to study film, television, and interactive media. Courses are offered in film production, screenwriting, directing, editing, animation, interactive game design, and industry studies.
This hands-on program is based on the professional-level curriculum of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. You’ll learn about the art, craft, and business of cinematic media from SCA faculty and industry professionals with real-world experience. All courses are fully accredited, allowing you to earn elective college credits transferable to USC and other universities. Classes take place on the USC campus, where you’ll have access to sound stages, editing rooms, theaters, and industry-standard production equipment. The program also includes screenings, seminars, and exclusive meetings with directors, actors, producers, writers, and executives.
5. Syracuse University’s Summer College—Filmmaking
Location: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Cost: $4,295 (Residential) | $3,318 (Commuter); discounts and scholarships are available
Application Deadline: May 1
Dates: July 6 – July 18 | July 20 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, or 2025 high school graduates
Syracuse University’s Summer College offers high school students the chance to experience college life, take college-level courses, and engage in on-campus activities and events. The Filmmaking course is a hands-on workshop where you will work in small production groups with individualized mentoring. The program focuses on film and visual storytelling, creativity, and cinematic techniques. Through workshops, you will learn cinematography, sound recording, scriptwriting, animation basics, editing, and post-production.
Over two weeks, you will work on short films (1–3 minutes) and participate in a mini-film festival on the final day. The program includes instruction from faculty in the Syracuse University Film Program, opportunities to develop a film portfolio, and an introduction to core filmmaking principles. You will receive a Certificate of Completion and can request a Syracuse University noncredit transcript.
6. SOCAPA Filmmaking Summer Camp—Core Filmmaking
Location: Los Angeles, CA | Manhattan, NYC | Burlington, VT
Cost:
- Two-week program: $2,745–$2,995
- Three-week program: $3,645–$3,995
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: Two- and three-week programs are available between June 15 and August 9
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18
SOCAPA’s Core Filmmaking summer camp for high school students is a hands-on introduction to narrative filmmaking, similar to a college-level course. You will write, direct, and edit your films while also working on your classmates’ projects as a Director of Photography, Sound Technician, or Production Assistant. The program lasts three weeks, with a shorter two-week option available, that excludes the final “Kubrick” project.
Each week, you will create a film, gaining experience in all stages of production. The first two days cover filmmaking fundamentals such as screenwriting, directing, producing, cinematography, and sound recording. Midweek, you will begin production on a single-shot group film, the “Lumiere Film,” under instructor supervision. After filming, post-production classes focus on editing and sound design. Films are reviewed and screened weekly at the Friday Night Showcase. You will take writing and directing classes on script development, story structure, camera placement, and shot composition. Additionally, you will receive technical training through cinematography classes on camera operation and shooting exercises and sound classes on audio recording techniques and equipment use.
7. The Game, Cinema, & Animation Summer Academy at DePaul University
Location: DePaul University’s Loop Campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: The cost is $850, with a limited number of need-based partial scholarships available.
Application Deadline: May 17 (tentative, based on the previous year’s program)
Dates: July 14 – July 18
Eligibility: Students who have completed their freshman year of high school by July 1, 2025, or are graduating seniors from the Class of 2025 can apply.
DePaul University’s Game, Cinema, & Animation Summer Academy provides high school students with hands-on instruction in film, television, and game industries using the latest technology, taught by DePaul faculty.
You can choose from five tracks: Film and TV Production, where you will collaborate in groups to write, shoot, and edit short films while learning basic editing techniques; Game Development, which focuses on designing, programming, and creating assets for a 3D computer game; Hand-Drawn Character Animation, which covers the fundamentals of classical hand-drawn animation and working with animation software; 3D Modeling and Animation, where you will explore computer animation and modeling, design and texture assets, and integrate them into a working game; and Screenwriting, which introduces script format, visual writing style, story structure, character development, and the business aspects of screenwriting.
8. Interlochen’s Filmmaking Summer Program for High School Students
Location: Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, MI
Cost: $6,985; financial aid is available
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: June 22 – July 12 | July 13 – August 3
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
Interlochen’s Filmmaking Summer Program gives high school students hands-on experience in cinematic storytelling, covering screenwriting, production, editing, and final screenings. You will work with professional filmmakers, guest artists, and fellow students to create an original film.
The program includes classes and lab sessions where you can develop technical production and postproduction skills. You will also learn to apply what you learn in real production settings. As a filmmaking student, you will participate in several workshops on Production, Post-Production/Editing, Screenwriting, Tech Skills, and Film History. At the end of each session, student films are screened at the DeRoy Center for Film Studies, which features editing suites, high-tech classrooms, a soundstage, and a 180-seat 2K HD projection space, ensuring films are presented as intended by the students.
9. SFFILM Education’s Youth Filmmaker Camp
Location: University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $1,250 (non-SFFILM members) | $1,200 (SFFILM members); scholarships are available
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates:
- Starter Lab: July 14 – July 25
- Advanced Lab: July 28 – August 8
Eligibility: Students aged 14–18
SFFILM Education’s Youth Filmmaker Camp is a summer program for high school students that offers hands-on instruction from film professionals. The camp has two levels: the Starter Lab for beginners learning filmmaking basics and storytelling, and the Advanced Lab for students looking to expand their existing skills. You will explore screenwriting, storyboarding, production, cinematography, sound, and editing.
Through lectures, exercises, guest speakers, and workshops, you can develop a better understanding of filmmaking from concept to post-production. You will write screenplays, create short films, and rotate through roles such as director, cinematographer, and sound technician. Technical training includes editing with Adobe Premiere Pro, screenplay formatting, and working with professional cameras, lighting, and sound equipment. The camp concludes with a screening of student films. The program also features guest speakers, including SFFILM-supported and Bay Area filmmakers.
10. UNCSA’s Filmmaking Summer Intensive
Location: University of North Carolina School Of The Arts, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $5,323 (Residential) | $3,186 (Commuter) + a $50 non-refundable application fee; need-based scholarships are available
Application Deadline: April 15
Dates: June 15 – June 20 (online) and June 22 – July 19 (on campus)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores through incoming college freshmen
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts Filmmaking Summer Intensive is a five-week hands-on program for high school students that covers screenwriting, cinematography, directing, producing, and digital editing. It introduces beginners to filmmaking fundamentals while offering advanced study for experienced students.
The program, held at Studio Village, the on-campus movie set at UNCSA, provides students with an opportunity to engage in narrative filmmaking. You will develop short films while gaining insight into the creative, analytical, organizational, and collaborative aspects of filmmaking. Instruction is provided by professional artist-teachers, with additional support from college teaching assistants and fellow students. You will also work with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment throughout the program.
11. Warner Bros. Reach Honorship Program
Location: Warner Bros. Discovery Studios in Burbank, CA
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate, and a stipend is provided for summer internships.
Application Deadline: Varies based on the specific internship opportunity
Dates: Internship dates vary but are typically scheduled between June and August.
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors in Burbank or Los Angeles County with a minimum 3.0 GPA who plan to attend an accredited college or university
Warner Bros. Discovery offers honorships and internship-scholarship packages to graduating high school seniors interested in media and entertainment careers. You can explore corporate roles such as finance, operations, marketing, human resources, and communications, as well as technical or creative roles in post-production, content development, sound editing, and game design.
Applications are available for two tracks:
- Business Honorship Track: For students interested in finance, marketing, communications, and other corporate or administrative roles within the entertainment industry.
- Production and Studio Operations Honorship Tracks: For students interested in production, post-production, or studio facilities roles within the entertainment industry.
The Reach Honorship provides a $5,000 college scholarship, paid directly to your college or university in four equal annual installments of $1,250 while you remain enrolled. You can explore the internship opportunities here.
12. Georgia Film Academy’s Summer Camps
Location: George Film Academy Trilith campus, Fayetteville, GA
Cost: The cost ranges from $500 to $675, depending on the selected camp.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates:
- Screen Writing Camp: June 2 – June 6
- Film Production Camp: June 6 – June 8 | June 13 – June 15 | June 20 – June 22 | July 11 – July 13 | July 18 – July 20 | July 25 – July 27
- Post-production Camp: June 20 – June 22 | July 25 – July 27
Eligibility: High school students
Georgia Film Academy offers summer camps for high school students in Screenwriting, Film Production, and Post-Production.
- The 5-day Screenwriting camp covers story structure, character development, dialogue, and formatting. Through hands-on exercises, discussions, and feedback, you will develop a completed screenplay by the end of the week. On the final day, guardians are invited to a Table Read Session to hear the scripts.
- The 3-day Film Production camp focuses on pre-production, lighting, grip, sound, and camera movement. You will work on sets built by Georgia Film Academy’s Set Construction and Art Department students. This camp is suitable for those interested in both acting and film production.
- The 3-day Post-Production camp teaches video and sound editing using Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve. You will edit footage from the Production Camp and work on special video and sound design projects. On the final day, guardians are invited to a screening of the completed films.
13. UCLA’s Voiceover Camera Acting Institute
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA (commuter program)
Cost: $2,731; scholarships are available
Application Deadline: June 13
Dates: June 29 – July 11
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and older, as well as college and graduate students
UCLA’s Voiceover Camera Acting Institute is a two-week, UC credit-bearing program for high school seniors interested in the performing arts. It offers training with UCLA faculty in voiceover, Shakespeare, on-camera acting, and voice classes. You will learn the technical aspects of acting for the microphone and camera while working on content for a voiceover demo reel and self-tape audition. The program also includes guest workshops and collaborative exercises.
Throughout the institute, you will work with commercial, promo, animation, and narration scripts and receive one-on-one coaching from industry professionals, culminating in a professionally produced voiceover demo reel. The curriculum covers voice and breath control, articulation, enunciation, script analysis, and storytelling. You will work on pace, tone, cadence, texture, and word emphasis to improve your delivery. You can also develop distinct character voices for animation, learn microphone techniques, and create a “signature sound.” You will receive a letter grade upon completion. More information about academic credit is available here.
14. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: You can find the exact cost by submitting an interest form. Full financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort:
- Spring: February 16
- Summer: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)
Dates:
- Spring: March 3 onwards
- Summer: June 16 onwards
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of at least 3.67 on a 4.0 scale can apply. Most accepted students are in 10th or 11th grade. Some tracks have specific prerequisites, which can be reviewed here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in fields such as physics, pathology, data science, biomedical engineering, chemistry, political theory, neuroscience, machine learning & social media, and history. You can choose between qualitative and quantitative research methods.
After selecting a subject and research method, you will be paired with a professor or PhD scholar from a recognized university for mentorship. By the end of the program, you will complete a 20-page university-level research paper, which may be submitted to academic journals for publication. The program provides the opportunity to conduct specialized research with expert guidance, along with a letter of recommendation and detailed feedback to support college applications and future research. You can apply here!
15. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starts at $2,990. Financial aid is available!
Application Deadline: Application deadlines vary by cohort. The upcoming deadline for the summer cohort is March 9.
Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the fall cohort from September to December, the winter cohort from December to February, and the spring cohort from March to June.
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week opportunity for high school students to conduct independent research with guidance from a Ph.D. mentor. You will receive personalized support throughout the program, including assistance from a writing coach.
With mentor support, you will choose and refine a research topic, participate in workshops on research methods, and complete a detailed independent research paper. Available fields of study include data science, sociology, history, physics, gender studies, chemistry, engineering, economics, psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and classics. You can also customize your research topic based on your interests. More information about the application process is available here.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.
Image source: New York University
