Your Impact

Our festival and related initiatives include the Traveling Roadshow, the Future of Film Podcast, Teen Indie Awards Show, remote and in-person Film Invitational Competitions, and more.

Teen Indie Awards Show:

This annual event celebrates the creativity, passion, and talent of the best student artists worldwide. For many in our community, it marks the pinnacle of their artistic journey—a grand stage for exploration, growth, and accomplishment. The formal evening, hosted at iconic venues in New York City, features a red carpet, live musical performances, special celebrity guests, and the awarding of hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes and scholarships.

Traveling Roadshow:

Our Traveling Roadshow immerses attendees in the best of student filmmaking from around the world. The interactive presentation screens exemplary student films across diverse genres and styles, then breaks down the tools and techniques behind their success. Participating students gain inspiration and practical skills to elevate their craft and compete at the highest level.

The Future of Film Podcast:

The future of film is now, with a new generation of talent emerging who possess deep understanding, unprecedented exposure, and passion to share their stories. This podcast features intimate, engaging interviews that offer behind-the-scenes insights from the best emerging filmmakers worldwide—an essential listen for anyone passionate about film and storytelling.

Film Invitational Competitions:

Throughout the year, we offer both in-person competitions in NYC and remote competitions. These provide authentic, real-world production experiences for student filmmakers and video production programs. Believing that the best classroom is a film set, our competitions offer participants opportunities to collaborate, refine their skills, and showcase creativity while competing with peers globally.

Video Production Resource Community Curriculum:

We believe one of the best tools a teacher can have is relevant, peer-created content. Our curriculum draws from an extensive library of over 15,000 student films, with 50+ lessons that offer 2–4 days of interactive instructional activities focused on inspiring students to elevate their craft to the highest level.

Festival Scholarship Fund:

Our AAHSFF Scholarship Fund is designed to make the festival experience accessible to students who have demonstrated a commitment to visual storytelling but lack the financial means to attend. Each year, we provide significant support, currently averaging around $40,000, to help talented students make the festival experience a reality.

Supporting a filmmaker through the scholarship fund provides: An All-Access Pass, Airfare, Lodging, and Meals for a 3-day NYC adventure.

Estimated Cost Per Attendee: $2,500

Webinars and Resources:
We provide a wide variety of free webinars on hyper-relevant topics, led by industry professionals and university professors, along with resources essential for a complete production experience.

Our Commitments:

  • Promoting social impact storytelling through custom competitions and categories.

  • Prioritizing immersive educational opportunities for emerging student filmmakers regardless of socio-economic status, including access to curriculum and free resources.

  • Ensuring an even playing field for video production programs by offering free access to interactive presentations, mentorship, “movie-in-a-backpack” production kits, curriculum, and related resources.

  • Empowering student filmmakers with production grants and one-on-one mentorship from industry professionals dedicated to elevating the next generation of artists.