Memberships

Youth FilmHouse Residency

This program provides strategy and guidance to young storytellers towards professional paths in the film industry. Applications for the Fall 2026 Youth FilmHouse Residency are now open! The deadline to apply is Monday, September 14th at 11:59 PM PST.

What is the Youth FilmHouse Residency?

The Youth FilmHouse Residency is an annual program that begins in the Fall semester for Bay Area students in grades 9–12 who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC) and are excited to explore careers in film and filmmaking. The residency is co-programmed by SFFILM’s Education and Artist Development teams.

Throughout the residency, students will engage with SFFILM FilmHouse Residents, SFFILM staff in other departments, film industry professionals, and a dynamic curriculum that balances practical skills like production strategy and technique along with trainings, panels, and lectures that highlight industry knowledge and possible career paths through our artist network. Each student will additionally be paired with a Bay Area-established and SFFILM-supported filmmaker as their mentor that reflects their unique goals and interests. As Youth FilmHouse Residents embark on the next stage of their artistic endeavors, we will ensure they are folded into the SFFILM community. By the end of this residency, each student should have a realistic action plan to immediately begin their film career in keeping with their own artistic voice.

Workshops will take place starting October 17th, 2026 and will be every other Saturday from 12–3pm at the SFFILM FilmHouse in the Presidio, plus field trips. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory.

APPLY HERE
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Schedule of Sessions

Additional optional opportunities may arise. Dates and times may change pending field trips.

  • Session #1: October 17th 12-3pm
  • Session #2: October 31st 12-3pm
  • Session #3: November 7th (Time TBD)
  • Session #4: November 21st 12-3pm
  • Session #5: December 5th 12-3pm
  • Session #6: January 9th 12-3pm
  • Session #7: January 23rd 12-3pm
  • Session #8: February 6th 12-3pm
  • Session #9: February 20th 12-3pm
  • Session #10: March 6th 12-3pm
  • Session #11: SFFILM Festival (April 22-May 2, Exact Date TBD)
  • Session #12: June Field Trip (Date TBD)

Along with building upon filmmaking skills and meeting a cohort of peers and professional industry contacts, the Youth FilmHouse Residency offers added benefits, including a scholarship to the upcoming 2027 Youth Filmmakers Camp, tickets to Doc Stories and the SFFILM Festival, and a complimentary one-year SFFILM Membership. Additionally, students will be pre-screeners for the Youth Works short film submissions for the 2027 SFFILM Festival.

To learn more about the previous cohort of Youth FilmHouse Residents check out this Q&A with the 2025 attendees.

Application Information

Applications open on August 10th. The deadline to apply is Monday, September 14th at 11:59 PM PST. Applicants will be notified by September 30th. For any questions, please contact Education Manager Soph Schultz Rocha at sschultzrocha@sffilm.org.