What’s New & Noteworthy at Media Power Youth
MPY’s First Youth Film Festival
Media Power Youth held our first ever Youth Film Festival on August 17th celebrating the artistic works and visions of young filmmakers. Eight unique short films captivated families and community members throughout a highly-anticipated morning of cinema.
The festival highlighted the creative voices of youth aged 10-14 at Red River Theatres in Concord, NH. We partnered with Red River Theatres for this meaningful event because of the way they bring people together through the presentation and discussion of film. They understand that media can both entertain us and deepen our appreciation of the world around us. It was inspiring to see all of our filmmakers’ creative works showcased on the big screen, initiating valuable conversations between generations within our community!
The short films shown during the event were made this summer in collaboration with our partners at the SEE Science Center and NH Audubon. These films highlighted our young filmmakers’ perspectives on conservation, environmentalism, and the potential futuristic impact that science and technology may have on humanity. Every film had its own unique twist on informative storytelling, playing to the strengths of each camper’s personality through their style and delivery.
Something Fishy follows a local man’s quest to locate his beloved brook trout after it mysteriously disappears in a staged crime scene drama, all while informing us about endangered freshwater fish in New Hampshire and how we can protect them. In another film, Massabesic Birdhouses, bird enthusiasts draw attention to their love of arts and crafts through a step-by-step demonstration, encouraging us to reuse our empty plastic bottles to make birdhouses for our own backyards! The producers of One Fish Two Fish Red Fish No Fish experiment with breaking the fourth wall as Boblin the Fact Goblin explores characters’ motivations behind how they treat ocean life.
Over 100 family and community members came together for this special occasion to empower our youth by listening, asking questions, and applauding their films. Filmmakers experienced the joy of advocating for the causes and people they care about. They learned they are capable of inspiring others to think about topics in a new light, through not only data and facts, but also by connecting ideas, people, and emotions.
Emceed by Media Power Youth Board Member, David Wagner, the film festival gave young voices the spotlight while sharing MPY’s passion for helping to shape our next generation of leaders and the kind of communities we live in. Our summer camp programs are just one part of our mission to help kids build healthy tech habits and use media responsibly and creatively to support well-being.
The festival also provided an exciting opportunity for campers to reunite with each other and reconnect with camp educators Avery Bondra, Sydney Robinson, and Garrett Calusdian from Media Power Youth, as well as Slater Roosa from NH Audubon.
“I personally had the opportunity to observe some of these students in action at camp last month. And as impressed as I was by their boundless imaginations and energy, I was equally struck by the camp staff who skillfully and patiently ushered that energy into the creative films we’ve seen today,” Wagner said.
Our young filmmakers each received a certificate of achievement in filmmaking. They celebrated by posing for red carpet photos and capturing memories of the occasion to hold onto for years to come.
To close out the event, six winners were awarded fantastic raffle prizes full of fun and engaging experiences such as game nights, movie screenings, scientific discoveries, escape rooms, and adventures in roller skating and baseball!
We would like to extend a thank you to our friends for their contributions to the success of our first Youth Film Festival! Thank you to the Granite United Way, NH Department of Justice, Manchester Rotary Club, Exeter Public Library, Bear Foundation, Lobombarde Family, Lustbader Family, NH Charitable Foundation’s Rutman Family Fund, Corbit Family Fund, and Ernest and Corinne Null Family Fund, SEE Science Center, NH Audubon, Albert Wilkinson Photography, Bangor Savings Bank, Systems Engineering, Sheehan Phinney, Red River Theatres, Remix Skate and Event Center, Granite State Escape, Tabletop Tycoon, and McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center.
To learn more about the 2024 summer filmmaking experience and view the short films we premiered at the festival, please visit our recent blog post: 2024 Summer Filmmaking Camps!
⭐️ Thank you to organizational sponsor Systems Engineering for their ongoing support of Media Power Youth’s mission and programs!