The Anacostia Youth Media Festival is among the first youth-directed festivals in the DC area organized and held in the Anacostia Neighborhood of Washington, DC. The two-day event will feature screening, awards, and workshops. Youth ages 5 to 18 are encouraged to submit.

The 2025 Festival will be held at the THEARC-Congress Heights on September 26-27 from 10 am to 5 pm. SUBMISSION AND FESTIVAL ATTENDANCE IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC!

For 2026, the Anacostia Youth Media Festival (AYMF) will spotlight the theme “Founding Mothers,” honoring America’s 250th anniversary by celebrating the leadership, resilience, and impact of women in history and community life. As a youth-directed festival featuring film, podcasts, photography, experimental media, video games, and social storytelling, AYMF invites young creators to explore this theme or share stories rooted in their own experiences. Through workshops and community engagement, the theme will inspire projects on leadership, heritage, identity, and intergenerational strength. A new award will recognize outstanding work highlighting motherhood and women’s leadership, further advancing AYMF’s mission to amplify youth voices.

Awards & Prizes

Juror's Award
Audience Award
Craft Awards
"Founding Mothers" Theme Award

Rules & Terms

Youth submissions are accepted from across the DMVA area—the regional community spanning Washington, D.C., suburban Maryland communities such as Silver Spring and Bethesda, Northern Virginia areas including Arlington and Alexandria, as well as Baltimore and its surrounding suburbs. This includes youth from communities throughout Central Maryland and Northern Virginia that are culturally and economically connected to the region.