Ontario Youth Film Festival

We are a non-profit organization for youth filmmakers open to all students registered in high school across Ontario. A great place to learn, create and grow, the Ontario Youth Film Festival, along with our partner regional festivals, works to nurture the development of young aspiring filmmakers. We celebrate, inspire, and promote the future storytellers of Ontario.

Enter Educators Portal
North East Southwest Central

Why do we need OYFF?

In 2019, the Ontario film production industry contributed over $2 billion to the economy, while generating over 44,000 full-time direct and spin-off jobs. As the volume of production grows across the province, predictions are the industry will face a workforce shortage. We’ve created a place to provide opportunities for interactive learning with industry professionals that shows students it’s possible to pursue a viable career in the Canadian film sector.

What is the Educators Portal?

An accessible and affordable space for informative virtual seminars and resources to help Ontario school boards teach students the fundamental skills of digital storytelling for class and future career opportunities. Filmmaking is a vehicle to allow students to put into practice: problem solving, innovation, self-directed learning, collaboration, global citizenship, and critical thinking skills.

What’s available to Educators?

  • Access to our 16 past virtual seminars with some teaching plans
  • Resources, handouts, and links to help educators incorporate digital storytelling projects into the classroom
  • Access to 10 upcoming exclusive virtual seminars including live Q&As with film industry professionals and student filmmakers

Who is this for?

The skill of digital storytelling can be used across an array of subjects. We propose using video projects in a variety of classes including English, Drama, Geography, History, Social Sciences, and Languages!

Youth Filmmaking 101 Virtual Seminars

Ontario Youth Film Festival’s virtual interactive seminars give high schoolers and aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to learn about the various aspects of filmmaking from industry experts, student filmmakers and post-secondary educators, with additional focus on career opportunities.

Why our seminars?

  • Interactive with Q&A sessions
  • Suitable for in-class or remote learning
  • Provide a “Reach Ahead” experience
  • Seminars feature award-winning student filmmakers and industry experts
  • Act as a vehicle for students to problem solve, innovate, and collaborate
  • Allow for creativity, self-expression, and entrepreneurship
  • Inspire students to submit their films to regional youth film festivals
  • Give them the tools and support to succeed in the industry
  • P.D. seminars for educators

This experience provides authentic and engaging opportunities for students to:

  1. Actively participate (What?)
  2. Reflect to derive meaning (So what?)
  3. Apply learning to influence next steps (Now what?)

School Board Membership

  • Access to Educator’s Portal that includes teacher resources and Seminar Library
  • Registration for exclusive YouTube seminars with live Q&A
  • Free submissions for students to regional youth film festivals
Registration Form Educators Portal