For Kids & Teens - Year-Round Workshops, Programs, Membership & More!

For Kids:

Young Chicago Critics

Facets’ Young Chicago Critics gives youth ages 11-14 a foundation in the technique, grammar and process of film production. Using innovative team teaching approaches, teachers, filmmakers and critics involve kids in what it takes to create a film. Teaching the basics of filmmaking techniques, film vocabulary, and film criticism including written and on-camera reviews, Young Chicago Critics participate in dozens of hands-on activities, including creating a movie. Select participants ages 12-14 are also selected to attend other films festivals internationally as a youth juror. LEARN MORE!

Take One! Workshops

With the generous support of the Hot Topic Foundation, some of America's foremost actors, screenwriters, filmmakers and critics will conduct intensive master classes with Chicago-area children during the Chicago International Children's Film Festival. These classes provide children with an unprecedented opportunity to benefit from the knowledge and experience of accomplished media professionals. Hands-on Take One! Workshops directly involve children in specialized media-related materials and artwork. LEARN MORE!

Dream Screen II: Animation Workshop

For one stimulating week during the Festival, 25 kids, ages 11-13, work side-by-side with acclaimed animators to create short, animated films. This intensive hands-on workshop gives kids the opportunity to brainstorm story ideas, create their own animation figures, draw storyboards, design backgrounds, and learn the techniques needed to get things in motion under the animation camera. After this crash course in kid-friendly, state-of-the-art technology, these original short films have their world premiere during the second weekend of the Fest.

SEE THE DREAM SCREEN FILMS PRODUCED IN 2007 ONLINE!

Dream Screen III: Poetry In Motion

Encouraging students to read & recite poetry is a primary goal of Dream Screen III: Poetry in Motion. Our media educators come into the classroom to immerse young people in poetry; sharing famous poems & poets with children, and deconstructing the components of verse. Students then choose a poem they wish to animate, creating a film that reflects their own view of what the poem expresses. Films made during Dream Screen III: Poetry in Motion will have special premieres with the groups with which they are produced and may be screened at the upcoming CICFF! For more info on bringing Dream Screen III: Poetry In Motion to your school CLICK HERE!

Submit a Film

Are you a budding filmmaker who has made a movie? Then submit your film for a chance to win a $2500 prize and be included in the upcoming Chicago International Children's Film Festival (CICFF), the largest festival of films for children in the world, programming over 200 films from 40 countries made by adults, children and youth. There is no entry fee for entries produced by kids 14 years old or younger! Entry Deadline, May 31. SUBMISSION DETAILS

Children's Jury

The 70 member Children's Jury, for kids ages 7-14, meets for 2 weeks in August and screens over 100 films to be shown as part of the upcoming Chicago International Children's Film Festival. MORE INFO!

Facets Future Filmmakers

Are you a kid into movies? We've got the FILMCLUB just for YOU! Facets Future Filmmakers is your ticket for exclusive deals, screenings, discounts & opportunities. MORE INFO!

Best of Fest DVD

After years of requests for festival films from librarians and teachers, the CICFF announces the release of Best of the Fest, Award-Winning Films from the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, the first DVD release of Facets Kids Film Network. The Best of the Fest DVD is a collection of 10 of the best short, multicultural films from the Chicago International Children's Film Festival - fully licensed and cleared for public performance!

Each DVD comes with a full set of promotional and educational resources to help leaders organize screenings, hold discussions and guide kids through activities based on the films. With the Best of the Fest DVD, anyone can host a children's film festival in their local library, school or activity center. It is more than just a DVD -- it's an event! MORE INFO!

For Teens:

MediaBridge: Global Exchanges in Filmmaking

MediaBridge is a 5-week summer youth program bringing together young filmmakers ages 15-19 from Illinois and around the world. The program focuses on film programming & screenwriting, and is designed for teens who are willing to work, who are excited to explore cultural differences and who are engaged in the future of filmmaking. This is your chance to communicate with your international peers about the face of media in the new millennia and your place in it. LEARN MORE!

MediaBridge Youth Film Fest

The MediaBridge Youth Film Fest is a two-day showcase of films curated entirely by MediaBridge participants, of films made for and by teens. The Festival includes international short & featue films as well as an "open screen" where teen-produced films are shown & discussed. The MediaBridge Youth Film Fest takes place in mid-August at Facets (1517 W. Fullerton, Chicago) & at the Harold Washington Cultural Center (4701 S. King Drive, Chicago).

Young Chicago Critics

Submit a Film

Facets Film School

Each season Facets Multi-Media offers Facets Film School, a selection of evening film theory classes over a 6-week period. Classes may focus on a director, a genre, culture or history. Please note that Facets Film School classes may include mature films & discussion. LEARN MORE!