Y-CAM is not a new high school festival. Y-CAM is a new name for a festival that started in 2014 as a single event at the DC Independent Film Festival, then became a one day festival, and is now a stand-alone two day annual High School Film Festival. In 2023 and 2024 we screened between 12 and 16 films in competition from across the US and from abroad with around 2/3 of the filmmakers attending. In 2025, we expect to select around 20 films for screening. If invited to attend, we work with you to help you come to Washington DC to take part in the festival and we ask that you understand that you are expected to attend.

CATEGORIES: Y-CAM accepts submissions in competition that are up to 20 minutes long. We accept documentaries, music videos, fiction, animation, art and experimental.

The festival includes workshops and seminars, a sneak preview screening, a "Meet the University and College Reps Panel", a Media Careers Workshop and cool games and music. Each year we invite one for more successful actors, actresses, directors, writers or cinematographers to take part and share their experiences. In 2024, we welcomed Ava Acres who has played notable roles as a teenage actress for TV series such as American Horror Story, Once Upon a Time, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and has been a voice-over actor for Happy Feet Two, Adventure Time, and Family Guy. In 2023 we welcomed Cynthia Addai-Robinson known for Shooter, Chicago Med and currently starring as Queen Regent Miriel in The Rings of Power.

Y-CAM at DCIFF is coordinated by three high school students backed by DCIFF staff each year. This is a "by the people, for the people" event.

Please see our online 2021 festival here:
https://dciff-indie.org/2021-high-school-film-festival/schedule-2021-online-high-school-festival
and 2024 here: https://dciff-indie.org/2024-high-school/

Awards & Prizes

Films are judged by industry professionals attending the Y-CAM festival itself, with an Awards event during the afternoon of Sunday February 2, 2025. There will be 7 awards categories: First and Second place in fiction, documentary and animation and one Most Original Award. First Place winners receive $350, 2nd place winner receive $250.

Rules & Terms

* YOU MUST UPLOAD YOUR SCHOOL ID when you submit or send a copy with the name of your film to dciffhighschool@gmail.com
*Your film must have been completed within 2 years of submitting to Y-CAM at DCIFF if you are still in high school. It is your status as still being in school, not your age that counts for us.
*If you have left high school, you can only submit a film completed in the 2023-2024 academic year.
*We accept films made as a team or ensemble effort.
*If your film is selected for screening in competition, we really do expect you and your team to try to attend if your film is selected.
*If your film is currently available for free online, we ask you to take it off line from January 2025 until the end of Y-CAM at DCIFF.
Questions? Email: dciffhighschool@gmail.com