The National Film Festival for Talented Youth was founded in 2007 by Kyle Seago, Jocelyn R.C., and Jesse Harris (who wrote and directed the feature film “Living Life” at the age of 17). The organizers aimed to create a film event with the potential of becoming the most influential youth-oriented film festival in North America.
The main goal of NFFTY is to give emerging filmmakers a unique opportunity to showcase their work in front of a wide audience of film lovers as well as to help them make contacts with seasoned film directors and other industry professionals who gladly share their knowledge and experience with up-and-coming film directors and screenwriters.
The program of the festival includes an opening night gala, film screenings, panels featuring industry professionals (film directors, screenwriters, producers), filmmaking workshops and seminars, music performances, a closing night event, Awards Show where the Audience Award winners and special Jury Prize winners are announced, and a series of special events dedicated to a variety of topics.
The National Film Festival for Talented Youth lasts for four days and features over 200 feature-length and short films by filmmakers from all over the United States and more than 20 countries across the world. The festival attracts around 12,000 film lovers and industry professionals. Since its inception, it has become a major platform for young filmmakers in North America, bringing elementary age through college age filmmakers together and presenting their work to a diverse audience of all ages.
Films screened at NFFTY are the voice of new generation. They cover a wide range of topics, from intriguing and provocative to fun and frivolous, and everything in between. The festival enables, nurtures, promotes and encourages the next generation of filmmakers to entertain, inspire and lead the world with their stories.
Photo: filmfreeway.com
