15 Film Programs for High School Students

If you are curious about filmmaking, structured programs can help you explore different aspects of the art, from storytelling to production, while helping you test your interests in high school. These programs typically cover areas such as screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and sound design, often through hands-on projects and collaborative assignments. You may also work with industry-standard equipment or software while learning how films are developed from concept to final production. Many programs also include mentorship, film analysis, and exposure to professionals, helping you understand both the artistic and practical aspects of filmmaking.

Why should you choose a film program in high school?

Participating in a high school film program can be a way to gain practical experience, build a portfolio, and explore potential career paths in media and entertainment early on. You will engage in guided learning that builds both technical skills and creative confidence through real projects. These programs also provide access to mentors, peer collaboration, and industry insights that are difficult to replicate independently. In the process, you will be able to assess your interests and see if filmmaking or a specific aspect of the industry is something you want to explore in college and beyond!

To help you find the right option, we’ve narrowed down 15 film programs for high school students.

If you are looking for similar opportunities to explore film production and acting, check out our selection of film-focused internships and programs here and theatre programs here.

15 Film Programs for High School Students

1. Arts for Learning (A4L) Artworks Internship

The Arts for Learning ArtWorks Internship is a paid summer opportunity for high school students interested in developing both creative and professional skills. Over the course of five weeks, you will work at the MDC Koubek Center with a professional artist in your chosen field. Available tracks include visual arts, animation, architecture, dance and theatre, music production, and creative writing and film. You will dedicate your time to creating original work while also building workplace skills. Throughout the program, Arts for Learning staff will offer mentorship and guidance to support your artistic growth and career development.

2. Museum of the Moving Image’s Teen Council Program

The Teen Council Program is a paid opportunity designed for NYC students interested in media arts and museum-related work. Each year, the program accepts 15 to 20 students, who form the council and contribute to youth-focused programming at the Museum of the Moving Image.  As a participant, you will collaborate with other teens to plan and organize public events such as film festivals and media workshops. You will receive mentorship from professionals, including filmmakers, actors, media educators, and museum staff, as you learn about the operations of a media museum. The program additionally offers hands-on experience in event coordination and museum support. You will also develop project management skills while exploring the museum’s history and technology.

3. BRIC Teen Filmmaking Bootcamp 

The BRIC Teen Filmmaking Bootcamp is an eight-session program focused on developing filmmaking skills. As a participant, you will explore the stages of filmmaking, including ideation, filming, and editing. The program offers hands-on experience in professional studio environments. You will also learn how to work with equipment and explore production and post-production techniques. The program also offers a certification, which allows you to access BRIC’s equipment for your personal projects. The program also offers access to a creative community and potential paid opportunities.

4. NYU Tisch Future Filmmakers Workshop

The NYU Tisch Future Filmmakers Workshop is a free program that introduces you to filmmaking over a structured 14-week experience. You will learn core filmmaking aspects such as directing, editing, and production while working with DSLR cameras and Adobe Premiere. The curriculum emphasizes personal storytelling and creative expression through exposure to technical filmmaking elements. You will create both individual and collaborative short films during the program. Screenings and discussions of professional work will add analytical context. Interactions with filmmakers and Tisch faculty will provide you with insight into film industry practices.

5. NYFA’s 3-Week Online Film Camp for Teens

Location: Online
Cost: $2,025
Dates: July 20 – August 7
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 17; no prior filmmaking experience required

New York Film Academy’s three-week online camp walks you through the full filmmaking process, including writing, directing, shooting, and editing, using just your phone or any camera you have at home. Classes are conducted live on Zoom, covering subjects like directing, screenwriting, cinematography, and digital editing using Adobe Rush. You will work on two non-dialogue short films: a continuity film focused on visual flow, and a music/montage film that uses sound and editing to tell a story. Each film will be screened, with your lead instructor offering you feedback on your work. By the end of the program, you will have two completed short films in your portfolio.

6. UCLA Emerging Filmmakers Cinematography

Location: University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $3,550 + $35 non-refundable application fee; scholarships available.
Dates: Session A: June 21 – 26 | Session B: July 5 – 10 | Session C: July 12 – 17 | Session D: July 26 – 31
Application deadline: Not specified; registration opens February 15.
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.2 or higher; international students must submit proof of English proficiency.

This one-week UCLA program focuses on introducing you to cinematography, which is the art of lighting and shooting for film and television. You will work with digital cinema cameras and professional lighting equipment on UCLA’s sound stages, learning about aspects like composition, framing, camera movement, lens choice, and lighting technique. A highlight of the program is a virtual production workshop where you’ll film in front of a professional LED wall, which is the same technology used on productions like The Mandalorian, instead of a traditional green screen. Your work will be screened at the end of the week for friends and family. You will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program.

7. Spy Hop Youth Media Careers Film Apprenticeship

The Spy Hop Film Apprenticeship provides hands-on experience in professional filmmaking over eight weeks. You will work alongside peers to produce content, including experimental films and music videos. The program focuses on helping you familiarize yourself with time management and collaboration as part of a production team. You will gain experience taking a project from concept to final output, building skills in filmmaking and workflow management. You will complete the program with a portfolio that reflects your work.

8. Fresh Films Weekly Filmmaking Program

Fresh Films runs a weekly, project-based filmmaking program where you can learn the full process of creating stories from initial concept to final edit. Through sessions held twice a week after school, the program offers hands-on experience working with cameras, lighting, and sound alongside a production crew. The program offers the opportunity to work on four key projects: a music video, a how-to video, a documentary created with industry professionals, and a short film produced in collaboration with Sony Pictures. Throughout the experience, you will interact with industry specialists who offer insights into creative careers. At the end, you will leave with a portfolio of four projects.

9. BAVC Media Next Gen Factory & Animation

BAVC Media Next Gen’s Factory & Animation introduces you to hands-on media-making through two semester-long units focused on video production and animation. In the Factory track, you will learn pre-production, production, and post-production using DSLR cameras and storytelling techniques. The Animation unit covers foundational skills, including frame-by-frame drawing and experimental animation styles. You will work at KQED in the Mission on projects that focus on the exploration of personal and community-relevant topics and the development of technical skills and creative expression. The program emphasizes practical learning and skill development across both tracks.

10. NYU Tisch Online High School Filmmakers Workshop

Location: Online
Cost: $8,008 + $75 online application fee; scholarships are available.
Dates: July 6 – 31; fall sessions also available (dates TBA)
Application deadline: Priority deadline: May 11; Regular deadline: June 10
Eligibility: High school students

NYU Tisch’s Online High School Filmmakers Workshop is designed to introduce high school students to the complete filmmaking process, from writing to directing, shooting, and editing. This four-week credit-bearing program offers you virtual opportunities to collaborate, create, and sharpen filmmaking skills through instruction and project work. You will study screenwriting fundamentals, visual storytelling, and film structure through readings, exercises, and screenings. You will work on technical and creative projects, including creating a documentary, music video, and a narrative short film that you will write and direct. You will also experience a crew-like setup while you collaborate virtually with peers across time zones and geographies, simulating the real-world challenges and routine of production teams. 

11. Spy Hop Youth Media Careers Intro to Filmmaking

Intro to Filmmaking is a free class that is designed to help you explore the process of creating films through practical, project-based work. You will collaborate with a small crew to produce short films in different genres, including action and comedy. The class offers instruction in camera work, lighting, sound, and editing, and allows you to explore film theory and narrative development. You will work with tools such as DSLR cameras and editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve throughout the class. You will finish the class with multiple completed projects and foundational filmmaking skills.

12. Ghetto Film School’s Fellows Program

The Ghetto Film School Fellows Program is a free, 20- to 30-month pre-professional training experience designed to help you explore and pursue cinematic storytelling. The curriculum covers areas such as screenwriting, cinematography, sound design, and film production business practices. You will learn through practical components like pitching ideas to studio executives, visiting live film sets, and producing several short films using professional equipment. The program also includes an International Thesis Project, where you will travel abroad to film a large-scale production. The experience can help you build technical filmmaking skills, boost your visual literacy, and gain exposure to industry networks.

13. Spy Hop Watch This!

Watch This! is a free film program where you can explore storytelling through collaborative and individual projects. You will direct your own short film while also working as part of a crew on other films. The sessions will be structured around a shared theme that you and your peers help define. You will work in a fast-paced, experimental environment focused on creative expression, refining your filmmaking skills in the process. You will conclude with a film festival-style premiere showcasing completed work.

14. DCTV Youth Media Fellowship Program

The DCTV Youth Media Fellowship Program is a free media arts training experience for NYC youth at varying skill levels. You will progress through three levels, beginning with foundational instruction in documentary filmmaking, camera operation, editing, and interviewing. Intermediate training will help you build skills in lighting, sound, and research while supporting the creation of group and individual films. The advanced track will let you develop independent projects, including self-directed films and reporting assignments. The program includes hands-on practice and project-based learning. You will also engage in activities such as curating a youth documentary film festival.

15. USC Pre-College—Directing: Creating Your Short Film

Location: Online
Cost: $1,990 tuition + $35 application fee
Dates: Multiple start dates available; students have up to 90 days to complete the course after their chosen start date
Application deadline: Five days before each session starts
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 and up; recent graduates or students over 18 may request an exemption by emailing the program. International applicants can apply, but must be proficient in English.

This self-paced online course offered by the University of Southern California is designed to teach you how to make a short film, covering aspects from writing and pre-production to editing the final cut. You will learn how to prepare a script, scout locations, work with actors, and use everyday tools like a smartphone to shoot your film. The course is made up of recorded lectures, demonstrations, film clips, and creative assignments totaling roughly 20–25 hours of work, which you will complete at your own pace over a recommended four weeks. By the end, you will have a completed short film for your portfolio and receive a Certificate of Completion from USC.

One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program

If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in an area of your choice, you can consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! It is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and come up with a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far, offering 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here!

Image Source – University of Southern California