Youth Film Camp

Providing a ‘window’ into the broader world is at the core of our Youth-focused activities. Film is a great story-telling medium, and the films produced by our Film Camp participants are a testament to the collaborative aspects of filmmaking. There is strong evidence that engagement with filmmaking can be a vehicle for improving literacy, as well as expanding creativity, and improving vocabulary.

Tony Papa, director of the Powell River Digital Film School, on our collaboration: “We have worked together with the Film Festival for the past 13 years and can attest to the value and impact their Youth Programs have on our youth, from the Youth Film Camp to the inclusive screenings and workshops available to them.”

Our youth programs promote media literacy, skills development, an appreciation of cinema, and an awareness of community issues such as social justice, sustainability, and personal responsibility. The theme for the 2023 film camp is “Idols and Influencers”, a topic that affects our youth and is something that they have a lot to say about, as well as being a current phenomenon they can engage in and look at critically in their short films.

Film plays an important role not only in student literacy, but also in life learning, and career opportunities. Many of the students involved in the Camp and the PRDFS go on to further education and employment in film, or use the skills learned to further their other pursuits.

The camp takes place at the Patricia Theatre. Campers are divided into groups of 4 or 5 students, each under the mentorship of a professional filmmaker. Over the course of the 4 days, a variety of skills are explored in a collaborative environment that encourages creativity, helps build confidence, and develops listening skills – while making a 2-minute film. Students learn about developing a concept into a script, acting and directing skills, cinematography, sound recording and design, and editing.

At the end of the camp, the students introduce and show their films at the Historic Patricia Theatre, these celebratory screenings are well attended by parents, caregivers, and friends – more than 100 people attended the screening in 2022.

In 2021, we shifted from reaching out across the province to focus on our students in the qathet regional district. Admission to the camp is free. Applicants to the camp fill in a short questionnaire that helps us determine student interests, experience and skill level, as well as compatible teams. This year, we are inviting campers age 11 to 14 to apply.

The Youth Film Camp gratefully acknowledges the support of BC Gaming, Powell River Community Foundation, qathet Regional District, School District 47, Powell River Digital Film School, and the Powell River Rotary Club.