15 Free Film Studies Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 27 minutes ago
- 9 min read
If you are a high school student interested in filmmaking or visual storytelling, film studies programs can help you explore the creative and technical sides of the field. These programs often introduce you to areas such as screenwriting, cinematography, editing, film theory, and media analysis while allowing you to learn from experienced filmmakers or educators. Participating in a structured program can also help you experiment with different roles in the production process and better understand how films are planned and created.
Why Should I Participate in a Film Studies Program in High School?
Film studies programs in high school can help you explore filmmaking in a structured and supportive environment. Participating in film studies programs helps you build a portfolio of films or creative projects, work with industry professionals, gain technical skills, and demonstrate long-term dedication to film. These experiences can also help you better understand whether you want to pursue film or media studies at the college level.
In this blog post, we’ve compiled a list of 15 free film studies programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online STEM summer programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Burbank, CA
Stipend: Paid summer internship + $5,000 scholarship (across four years)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <1%; typically, 7 students
Dates: 4 years during college, beginning the summer you graduate
Application Deadline: Varies each year
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors in Burbank or LA County, with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and who plan to attend an accredited college or university.
This program combines paid studio internships with scholarship support, making it one of the strongest industry-connected opportunities on this list. Participants are placed in either a Production/Studio Operations track or a Business track, which can include exposure to explore content development, post-production, marketing, finance, and studio management. The structure combines paid internships with scholarship funding distributed over multiple years, giving students both workplace experience and financial support. Because placements rotate across departments, participants gain a broader understanding of how a major studio operates beyond a single narrow role. For students in Los Angeles County who want long-term exposure to the entertainment industry, it offers a more sustained pathway than a typical summer program.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November). You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students demonstrating strong academic achievement
This fully funded research program pairs you 1-on-1 with a Ph.D. mentor to complete an independent research project. While it is interdisciplinary, you could focus on film theory, media studies, cultural analysis, or related topics within the arts and humanities. Over 12 weeks, you develop a research question, conduct a structured inquiry, and write a formal research paper. The mentorship model emphasizes analytical thinking and academic writing, which are essential if you plan to study film at a research university. You also receive individualized feedback throughout the process. If you are more interested in the scholarly side of film rather than production alone, this program adds academic depth to your profile.
Location: Jacob Burns Film Center Media Arts Lab, Pleasantville, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by fellowship
Application Deadline: Varies by fellowship
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 or 11 (with some fellowships being open to 12th graders)
Jacob Burns offers various fellowships throughout the year, including documentary and narrative fellowships, allowing students to choose a track that matches their interests in nonfiction or scripted storytelling. Both fellowships are run in partnership with NYU Tisch and combine instruction from film professionals with project-based production work. Documentary fellows create and produce a short nonfiction film while gaining insight into its practical and business aspects; narrative fellows work together on a scripted short film. The stipend sets this program apart from many other youth film opportunities, particularly through the extensive mentorship offered. Since the fellowship operates on a track system, students can engage in a more specialized production experience compared to a broader introductory camp.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, Boston
Cost/Stipend: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18
The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus, study in small groups of 7-10, and learn from tutors from top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. Participants can explore a wide range of subjects, spanning over 20 options, including Architecture, AI, Business Management, Computer Science, Economics, Medicine, Philosophy, and more. The courses are experiential and focus on hands-on learning. You may find yourself conducting dissections in medicine, designing a robotic arm in engineering, participating in a moot court for law, or building creative writing portfolios and business case studies. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: NYU Tisch, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: January 31 – May 9
Application Deadline: November 10
Eligibility: Open to high school students who can attend all sessions
This free workshop introduces students to the filmmaking process over 14 weeks, progressing from concept development to a finished short film. Participants work with DSLR cameras and Adobe Premiere while learning how story structure, visual composition, and editing choices shape meaning on screen. The workshop includes both individual and collaborative assignments, which help students experience multiple roles within production. Film analysis and discussions with NYU faculty and industry professionals give the technical work a broader creative context.
Location: Los Angeles County, CA (In-person + Zoom components)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Programming begins in April and continues through August
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: 14–18 years old on June 1; enrolled in high school at the time of application; residing or attending school in Los Angeles County; must commit to all scheduled programming
Film2Future’s animation program focuses specifically on the animation pipeline rather than live-action filmmaking. Students move from concept development and visual planning into pitching, collaborative production, and the creation of a short animation. Spring sessions are held online during the week, while Saturdays add a more intensive workshop component; summer work continues that collaborative production process. Along the way, participants hear from entertainment professionals and get a clearer sense of how different animation roles fit together in studio environments.
Location: Available at 34 locations across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Free; a stipend is provided to interns
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Vary by location.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the location
Eligibility: All teens ages 13-19 interested in film, content creation, or storytelling are eligible to apply.
Fresh Films is built around recurring, production-based work rather than stand-alone lectures. Students collaborate with peers and industry professionals to create projects such as music videos, documentaries, branded content, and short films using professional-grade equipment. The structure resembles a youth production company, with students contributing to real deliverables over several months before screening their work publicly. Some participants continue into paid summer internships, which makes the program a possible bridge from youth training into more formal media work. Because programming varies by location, the exact projects differ, but the emphasis consistently falls on making media, meeting deadlines, and working as part of a crew.
Location: New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited seats
Dates: October 4 – May 12
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: NYC students, Grades 9–12
CTV’s Youth Media Fellowship centers on documentary filmmaking and media literacy throughout the academic year. Students meet after school and on weekends, progressing through a multi-level structure that begins with foundational skills and can continue into more advanced, pre-professional work. Training covers research, interviewing, lighting, camera operation, and editing, all within the context of nonfiction storytelling. As students advance, they begin producing original documentaries and reporting projects, which gives the fellowship a stronger journalistic dimension than many general film camps. The longer format also makes it possible to build skills incrementally and return for additional levels in later years.
Location: BRIC House Media Center, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free (application required); $200 stipend upon successful completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: January 27 – March 24
Application Deadline: January 11
Eligibility: Brooklyn residents ages 14–19; high school students
BRIC’s Teen Filmmaking Bootcamp offers a concise, structured introduction to film production across eight sessions. Students explore every phase of filmmaking, from initial planning to filming and post-production, using BRIC’s professional media facilities. As a certification program, the program may allow successful participants to qualify to borrow equipment for future independent projects, adding lasting value beyond the program itself. The program is especially relevant for Brooklyn students who want a practical introduction to media production in a community-based arts setting.
Location: Queens, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; a stipend is provided to participants after completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Typically runs from November through May (tentative)
Application Deadline: October 17 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students ages 15+ in 10th–12th grade
Teen Council is a job-development program at a media museum. Participants help shape teen-facing events, including the museum’s Teen Film Festival, while learning how cultural institutions curate, organize, and present work about cinema and moving-image media. The experience also introduces students to museum operations, event planning, and the historical and technological context of film. Rather than training students primarily as directors or editors, it helps them understand film culture from the institutional side. For students interested in curation, festivals, arts administration, or film exhibition, this makes it distinct from production-centered programs.
Location: Spruce High School and Townview High School, Dallas, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Structured according to each school’s calendar
Application Deadline: Determined by each school’s schedule
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Pegasus Media Project brings filmmaking instruction directly into school settings, making it more accessible to students who may not have transportation or access to external programs. Students receive guided training in screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and sound design while creating short films with peers. The curriculum is project-based and collaborative, so participants learn how to divide responsibilities, manage production tasks, and bring a story from planning to final cut. Completed work is screened at the Pegasus Film Festival, giving students a public venue for their films. The program’s school-based model and focus on underserved communities make it especially relevant as an access-oriented pathway into film education.
Location: Robinson Center, Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: January 12 – May 11
Application Deadline: January 5
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12
This program combines film appreciation with hands-on production and leadership development. Students can participate in workshops covering screenwriting, editing, lighting, and special effects, while also exploring film history and how style and context shape cinema. Collaborative short film projects provide hands-on experience across various crew roles rather than focusing on a single specialty. Guest speakers offer industry insights, helping students understand how professional filmmakers and media professionals develop their careers.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 20-month program
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 18 with no prior film experience needed.
The Fellows Program is one of the most intensive free filmmaking pathways available to teenagers, stretching across 20 months. Students receive training in screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, and the business side of media production through a long-term curriculum. Programming also includes screenings, masterclasses, career preparation, and connections to industry professionals, which help participants understand both creative and professional expectations in film. Because the fellowship runs over multiple years, students have time to build skills gradually and create more substantial work than they could in a one- or two-week camp.
Location: Wichita, KS
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Orientation on May 29; classes on Thursdays (tentative)
Application Deadline: May 23 (tentative)
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12, ages 13–18, local
Tallgrass’s Emerging Filmmaker Program uses weekly classes to introduce students to directing, producing, audio, and editing in a sustained local format. Mentorship from working professionals is paired with festival access, so students are not only making films but also experiencing the exhibition and audience sides of the field. The inclusion of the Tallgrass Film Festival expands the program’s scope beyond technical training and into the broader independent film community. For students in Wichita, it offers a rare combination of instruction, mentorship, and festival participation within a single local program.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free of cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all aspiring filmmakers
StudioBinder offers structured, self-paced lessons covering cinematography, screenwriting, and pre-production workflows. You learn through video modules that break down industry terminology, visual storytelling techniques, and production planning strategies. The platform also provides digital tools for storyboarding, shot listing, and scheduling that you can use on your own independent projects. If you need flexible, low-barrier entry into filmmaking, this is one of the most accessible free online film studies programs for high school students.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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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