Magic City 205 Youth Film Festival

Valton R. Johnson serves as Executive Director for the nonprofit, The Nadyne G. Johnson Foundation and is also the creative force behind Cinematic Creations Agency which annually host the Dundrill Heights Spring Break and Summer Film Camps. These children-centric camps promote diversity and representation within the production, film and entertainment industry. Film camp attendees get a glimpse of the future of filmmaking and producing from top leaders in the production and entertainment industry. This led to Johnson’s broader vision to create the Magic City 205 Youth Film Festival.

The Magic City 205 Youth Film Festival will augment Johnson’s film camps and their continued commitment to showcase diverse voices, foster dialogue and celebrate creative and cinematic excellence among the next generation of aspiring filmmakers. Visual storytelling establishes a unified form of expression that inspires and promotes multiculturalism while capturing and sharing once-in-a-lifetime moments through the power of film. The Magic City 205 Youth Film Festival’s aim is to cultivate dynamic platforms for a diverse group of young cinematic visionaries to explore and enrich their talent by engaging other youth, their families and their communities.

The Magic City 205 Youth Film Festival will be held from June 28-June 29, 2025 and will include a reception, panel discussion and viewings of various short films created by youth festival attendees. Film attendees and their families will also have an opportunity to participate in breakout sessions featuring top celebrities and industry playmakers. This first of its kind festival will focus on cultural and social enrichment for the community beginning with a reception on June 28, 2025, from 4:00pm-5:00pm at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute located at 520 16th St N., Birmingham, AL. This will allow participating youth to meet and greet the celebrity guests. Following the reception, we will host the meet and greet and panel discussion VIP reception for adults only from 5:30pm-7:00pm.

On June 29, 2025 from 10am-2pm, we will host the Magic City 205 Youth Film Festival in Birmingham’s historic business district located along 4th Avenue North downtown. We are encouraging youth from 4th-12th grades to submit a short film which will be graded. Winners will be invited to the awards show that will take place from 5:00pm-7:00pm at the Carver Theater located at 1631 4th Ave N, Birmingham, AL. The day will also include an array of fun-filled activities in the Kid Zone for youth film festival attendees as well as an assortment of food trucks.