15 Free Film Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 13 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you’re a high school student interested in film, a structured program can help you move from experimenting with videos to developing a deeper understanding of storytelling, production, and visual language. In these programs, you learn how screenwriting, cinematography, editing, sound design, and directing fit together while gaining insight into how films are planned, produced, and refined. Many of these opportunities are fully funded, allowing you to build advanced creative skills and a strong portfolio without taking on the high costs often associated with film education.
What are the benefits of a film program?
Free film programs make it possible to explore filmmaking without financial pressure, making them especially valuable if you want to test your interest before committing to formal study. Many are hosted by universities, museums, and nonprofit media organizations, which means you learn in environments connected to working professionals and established institutions. Beyond technical growth, you gain mentorship, structured feedback, and opportunities to share your work with peers and broader audiences.
To help you get started, here is a list of 15 free film programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Astoria, Queens, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: NYC public school students entering grades 8–12 in the Fall
The NYC DOE Arts Office Summer Arts Institute is a free, four-week intensive program for New York City public school students in grades 8–12 who are serious about pursuing the arts, including film. In the film major, you’ll work closely with professional teaching artists and industry partners like Ghetto Film School and Magic Box Productions to build technical and creative filmmaking skills through hands-on studio work. The program is designed for students at an intermediate or advanced level and emphasizes portfolio development, storytelling, and understanding career pathways in film and media. Beyond the classroom, you’ll attend performances, visit cultural institutions, and engage with working professionals across NYC’s arts scene. The experience culminates in a public exhibition and screening that showcases your original work to families and the community.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students or incoming college freshmen with strong academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation is a highly selective, fully funded research mentorship program designed for exceptional low-income high school students from around the world. Over 12 weeks, you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor from a top university to design and complete an independent research project in your chosen academic field. The program focuses on building core research skills, including literature review, hypothesis development, data analysis, and academic writing. By the end of the program, you will produce a formal research paper that reflects college-level scholarly work and exposes you to cutting-edge developments in your discipline. Incubated by Lumiere Education, the foundation aims to remove financial barriers and prepare students for future academic research, competitive college applications, and long-term careers in research-driven fields.
Location: Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15–20 students
Dates: November–May on select Wednesdays and Saturdays; Teen Film Festival on May 8
Application Deadline: October 17
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12, ages 15+
The Museum of the Moving Image Teen Council is a paid, year-long job development program for NYC high school students interested in film, media, and cultural programming. As a Teen Council member, you help curate and lead youth-focused events, including the Museum’s annual Teen Film Festival. You work closely with museum educators, programmers, filmmakers, and media professionals while learning how an arts institution functions behind the scenes. The program builds skills in curation, project management, public programming, and media history through hands-on responsibilities. In addition to professional mentorship and leadership experience, participants receive a stipend upon successful completion.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship opportunity that lets you work directly with high-growth startups and nonprofits from around the world for about eight weeks. As a high school student, you’ll collaborate with founders and managers from institutions like Harvard, Wharton, and Google on real, outcome-driven projects in fields such as AI and machine learning, technology, finance, healthcare, sustainability, journalism, and consulting. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, where you contribute to meaningful work rather than simulated tasks, while also receiving structured mentorship from startup leaders and Ladder Coaches. You’ll build practical skills in communication, time management, problem-solving, and professional collaboration through regular check-ins and guided training.
Location: DCTV headquarters, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: October 4 – May 12
Application Deadline: Rolling until spots are full
Eligibility: NYC students in grades 9–12, ages 14–18
DCTV Youth Media Fellowship is a free, multi-level media arts program for NYC high school students ages 14–18 who want hands-on experience in documentary filmmaking and storytelling. You’ll learn core skills like camera operation, interviewing, lighting, sound, editing, and media literacy while creating individual and collaborative film projects. The program is structured across beginner, intermediate, and pre-professional levels, allowing you to grow year over year as your technical and creative skills deepen. As you advance, you’ll research, shoot, and edit original films, including self-portrait documentaries and independent projects. You will also gain opportunities to curate youth film festivals and, at the highest level, participate in real-world reporting assignments.
Location: Jacob Burns Film Center Media Arts Lab, Pleasantville, NY
Cost/Stipend: None; $1,000 stipend for Narrative Filmmaking
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 students per fellowship
Dates:
Narrative Filmmaking: March 23 – June 8 (8 Sundays) + June 10
Documentary Filmmaking: March 7 – May 30 (10 Saturdays) + June 2
Application Deadline:
Narrative Filmmaking: February 23
Documentary Filmmaking: February 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–11
The Jacob Burns Film Center’s Director’s Cut High School Fellowships offer 10th and 11th-graders in-depth training in either documentary or narrative filmmaking. In partnership with NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Imagine Entertainment, students receive expert instruction and hands-on production experience. The Documentary Filmmaking fellowship focuses on the creative and business aspects of documentary storytelling, while the Narrative Filmmaking fellowship emphasizes visual storytelling and collaborative film production. You will work as part of a crew, engage in test shoots, screenings, and live demonstrations, and complete a short film. The program provides a structured, professional introduction to serious filmmaking practice.
Location: Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Mid-April
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 18 years old; high school seniors considered on a case-by-case basis
Atlanta Film Society Internships offer high school students a behind-the-scenes look at how a major nonprofit film organization operates. In this program, you’ll support real festivals and year-round activities, including event planning, membership coordination, marketing, screenplay programming, media/tech support, and festival operations. While the internship does not focus on hands-on film production, it provides valuable exposure to the organizational, creative, and technical work that sustains the film industry. You’ll learn how large-scale events like the Academy Award–qualifying Atlanta Film Festival are produced and managed from start to finish. Through collaborative projects, you’ll build professional skills in communication, teamwork, and project management while connecting with Georgia’s film and media community.
Location: NYU Tisch School of the Arts, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: January 31 – May 9 (weekly meetings on Saturdays)
Application Deadline: November 10
Eligibility: Open to high school students who can attend all sessions
The NYU Tisch Future Filmmakers Workshop is a free, 14-week filmmaking program that guides you through the entire creative process, from developing story ideas to editing a final film. You focus on personal storytelling and narratives that are often underrepresented in mainstream media. Using a DSLR camera and Adobe Premiere, you create multiple short films, both individually and in collaboration with peers, between February and May. The program combines hands-on production work with film screenings, group critiques, and discussions that strengthen your visual storytelling skills. You also interact with professional filmmakers and NYU Tisch faculty, gaining insight into film education and creative careers.
Location: Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $16.50/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: April 7
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors entering 12th grade in September; NYC residents in the five boroughs
The Apollo Theater Academy Technical Stage Production Internship is a paid, six-week summer program for NYC high school students seeking hands-on experience in the technical aspects of live performance and media production. You’ll work directly with Apollo Theater’s professional production crew, learning practical skills in lighting design, audio engineering, videography, carpentry, and stage production. The program combines on-site work at the historic Apollo Theater with virtual learning, giving you exposure to how live and recorded productions are planned and executed from start to finish. You’ll assist with real productions, managing sound equipment, operating lighting and video systems, and supporting set construction and scene changes. By the end of the internship, you’ll have real-world technical experience, professional mentorship, and a clearer understanding of behind-the-scenes careers in theater and live entertainment.
Location: Madison Park Development Corporation, Roxbury, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $16.25/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Tuesday & Thursday from January 13 – May 21 | Studio tours, meet & greets, and industry training sessions in early June
Application Deadline: January 4
Eligibility: Teens between the ages of 14 and 18 who reside in Boston
The Fresh Films Accelerated Training Program offers a paid, intensive filmmaking experience specifically for high school students in the Boston area seeking genuine industry exposure. Over five weeks, you’ll gain hands-on production training while working with professional equipment and learning the full filmmaking process, from pre-production planning to shooting and post-production. You’ll produce three portfolio-ready projects alongside industry professionals from organizations like The Roku Channel and Fremantle, while also earning an Adobe Premiere certification. The program includes guest speakers, studio tours, and workforce skills sessions focused on resumes, interviews, and career readiness. You’ll even have opportunities to work on a real TV or film set to earn IMDb credit, making this a strong launchpad for students interested in film and media careers.
Location: Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship opportunity
Eligibility: Varies depending on the internship opportunity
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) Young Filmmakers Program Internship is a hands-on opportunity for high school students to gain behind-the-scenes exposure to one of the world's most respected screenwriting and film festivals. In this unpaid internship, you’ll support real festival operations across departments like programming, marketing, production, script competitions, event planning, and data management, helping bring AFF’s conferences and screenings to life. While the focus isn’t on making films, you’ll learn how the film industry functions at a professional level, how festivals are planned, how writers and filmmakers are supported, and how large-scale creative events are executed. If you’re interested in the business, organizational, and storytelling ecosystem behind film and television, this internship offers valuable industry insight and strong professional exposure.
Location: 30 locations across the U.S
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Tuesday and Thursday after school, January to May
Application Deadline: Varies by location
Eligibility: Teens ages 13 to 19 interested in film, content creation, or storytelling
Fresh Films is a hands-on filmmaking program in which you work weekly with a crew to learn every stage of production, from pre-production planning through shooting and editing. You’ll gain practical experience using professional film equipment while learning camera operation, lighting, sound, and post-production workflows. Throughout the program, you collaborate on real-world projects, including music videos, unscripted how-to content, documentaries, and short films. Industry professionals from major companies such as Sony Pictures, Paramount, and Roku, as well as television production teams, will guide your work and provide insight into how sets operate at a professional level. By the end of the program, you’ll build a portfolio of multiple completed projects and develop a clear understanding of different roles within the film and digital media industry.
Location: Tallgrass Film Center, Wichita, KS
Cost/Stipend: Free; includes all-access festival pass plus one parent or guardian pass
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: TBA
Application Deadline: May 23
Eligibility: Local students in grades 8–12, ages 13–18
The Emerging Filmmaker Program guides you through the core stages of filmmaking in weekly, hands-on classes led by industry professionals. You study directing, producing, screenwriting, audio, lighting, camera operation, editing, and film analysis while developing your own creative voice. The program highlights collaboration, enabling you to work closely with peers and observe how actual film crews function. In addition to developing practical skills, you are introduced to film criticism and storytelling methods prevalent in independent cinema. As part of this experience, you get an all-access pass to the Tallgrass Film Festival, providing opportunities to view films, meet filmmakers, and gain insights into the inner workings of the film industry.
Location: MDC Koubek Center, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $13/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unspecified
Dates: 6 weeks, June–July
Application Deadline: Opens in Spring
Eligibility: Current 9–12 graders, age 14+; Florida residents with I-9 work eligibility
ArtWorks is a paid six-week summer internship program for Florida high school students interested in creative careers, including film and media. As a film intern, you work under the guidance of professional artists and Arts for Learning staff while contributing to real creative projects. The program combines hands-on artistic production with workforce development, helping you build skills in collaboration, communication, and professional responsibility. Interns are paid hourly and gain experience in a structured work environment that mirrors the creative industry. ArtWorks is designed to help students explore artistic career paths while developing practical, job-ready skills.
Location: Spruce High School and Townview High School, Dallas, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Determined by each school’s schedule
Application Deadline: Based on each school’s calendar
Eligibility: High school students from under-resourced communities and schools
The Portable Film Program for Youth (PFPY) provides free, hands-on filmmaking education to high school students in under-resourced schools and communities. Through workshops led by industry professionals, you learn screenwriting, cinematography, sound design, and film editing while creating short films across genres, including documentary, narrative, and experimental work. The curriculum is tailored to each school’s needs, ensuring students receive relevant and accessible film training. You work closely with instructors to develop technical skills and creative confidence throughout the production process. Completed projects are showcased at the Pegasus Film Festival, giving you a public platform to share your work and gain recognition.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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