The San Diego Young Filmmakers Festival celebrates young filmmakers who love storytelling and bringing their ideas to life.

Open to students in grades 3–12, this one-day event welcomes films created both in and outside of school. Whether a project started in a classroom or at home, this is a place for young filmmakers to share their work, be recognized, and connect with others who enjoy filmmaking.

From stop motion and animation to documentary and live action, all styles and voices are encouraged. Selected films will be screened in a theatrical setting.

Our goal is simple. To bring young filmmakers in San Diego together and create a space where they feel inspired, supported, and celebrated.

We are excited to see your films!

Awards & Prizes

🏆 Awards & Recognition

Awards are presented by age group — Elementary, Middle, and High School — in the following categories:

🎬 Best Short Film – Live Action
🎬 Best Short Film – Animation (including Stop Motion)

🌟 Special Recognition (All Age Groups)
Best Story
Best Cinematography
Festival Favorite (chosen by judges for overall excellence)
Audience Favorite (chosen by audience votes)

🎖️ Additional Recognition
Selected films may be featured on our website, social media, or included in public screenings.

All official selections will receive digital laurels to celebrate their achievement.

Rules & Terms

📜 Rules & Terms

By submitting to the San Diego Young Filmmakers Festival, you agree to the following:

🎓 Eligibility
Open to youth filmmakers in Grades 3–12

Eligibility is based on age at the start of production. Filmmakers must have been 17 or younger at that time. Participants who are now 18 are eligible if they are currently enrolled in high school.

🎬 Film Requirements

Films must be made primarily by the youth filmmaker (at least 60% of the creative work).

Submissions must be short films under the following time limits:
Grades 3–5: 15 minutes
Grades 6–8: 20 minutes
Grades 9–12: 20 minutes

Films must fall into one of the accepted categories: Narrative, Animation, Stop Motion, or Documentary

Original or royalty-free music only

No copyrighted material (music, video, or images) unless the filmmaker holds the rights

All content must be age-appropriate for a general youth audience

🧠 AI Use
Films must be created through human storytelling, creativity, and editing.

AI-generated content (including storylines, characters, dialogue, visuals, or voiceovers) may not be used as a primary tool in the film’s creation.

Visual enhancements using AI (e.g., minor color correction or clean-up) are acceptable, but AI should not be used to generate scenes, animate characters, or create major visual elements.

Any film found to rely primarily on AI will be disqualified.

📅 Submission Info
Films must be submitted through FilmFreeway
Submissions must be received by the May 9th, 2026
Selected films will be notified by email
All entries must include English subtitles if the film is not in English

🎥 Theatrical Screening
If selected for theatrical screening, filmmakers may be asked to provide a higher-resolution version (ProRes or 4K)

⚖️ Legal & Rights
By submitting, you grant permission for your film to be screened at the festival and, if selected, to be showcased online or used in promotional materials
The filmmaker retains full copyright to their work
Entry does not guarantee selection or screening
The festival reserves the right to disqualify any film that does not comply with the rules
4 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rowan Walsh-Lebus

    Participating in the San Diego Young Filmmakers Festival was a wonderful experience. Joy was helpful, communicative and enthusiastic throughout the process. I'm very glad I made the drive down to attend in person, see my film on the big screen, and was honored to receive the the award for Excellence In Filmmaking. I hope to submit more of my work in the future.

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much, Rowan! We were honored to screen Offerings and thrilled to recognize your work with the Excellence in Filmmaking award. It was wonderful having you with us in person, and we’re so glad you enjoyed the experience. We look forward to seeing what you create next and hope to welcome you back to SDYFF in the future!

  • Addie Knoll

    I was honored to have Constellations of the Sea included in the inaugural San Diego Young Filmmakers Festival. The festival team was supportive, professional, and communicative throughout the process, and it was clear they are passionate about creating opportunities for young filmmakers.

    I appreciated the festival's commitment to showcasing student work and helping young filmmakers share their stories with new audiences. I highly recommend the San Diego Young Filmmakers Festival and look forward to seeing it continue to grow in the years ahead.

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much, Addie, for your kind words and for being part of our inaugural festival! We were honored to showcase Constellations of the Sea and celebrate your talent as a filmmaker. Your support means a great deal to us, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to help share your story with our audience. We can’t wait to see what you create next and hope to welcome you back to SDYFF in the future!

    — The San Diego Young Filmmakers Festival Team

  • Aaditya Taleppady

    This festival was my first ever film festival, and it was amazing! It was really cool to see my film in the theater, and it felt very rewarding. The experience was great, and it ran smoothly. It was also cool to see other people's films, and having others react to my film was nice. Overall, it was a great experience, and I highly recommend it!

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re honored that SDYFF was your first film festival experience. We’re so glad you enjoyed the event, the films, and the opportunity to connect with other filmmakers. We look forward to seeing what you create next!

    – The San Diego Young Filmmakers Festival Team

  • Seth Baella

    Amazing communication and such a kind festival host, as well as a great mission.

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much, Seth! We truly appreciated having your film as part of the inaugural San Diego Young Filmmakers Festival. Your support and kind words mean a lot to us, and we’re excited to see what you create in the future!