Young Filmmakers Academy

★★★★★David Rothenberg

My daughter has had amazing experiences at YFA classes and summer camps. The kids learn a ton and are then encouraged to take ownership of their roles in the project, whether it's acting, directing, sound, editing, etc. And the films turn out great!

★★★★★Rose DoCampo

I've had the honor of working with these young filmmakers a few summers back and was quite impressed with how professional they were. The learning environment that Eric and Hortencia Swinderman provide to their students, encourages each of them to nurture and develop their individual creativity. It's absolutely magical to watch these students learn, grow and blossom into young filmmakers.

★★★★★Lisa Naymik

My daughter absolutely loved being part of YFA’s Advanced Film Camp! She attended all three weeks, which allowed her to dive into every stage of the filmmaking process. Through experiences with screenwriting, camera setup and operation, directing, editing, and CGI, she was introduced to technical skills and creative concepts that broadened her understanding of filmmaking. The hands-on learning environment, the chance to work with experienced mentors, and the opportunity to use professional equipment were outstanding and had a huge impact. She came home excited every day, and the program further deepened her passion for filmmaking. We’re so appreciative of Eric & Hortencia for the time and energy they put into making this such a positive experience. We are so grateful that she was given the chance to participate in such an incredible, immersive program—and equally amazed that an opportunity like this can be offered to young filmmakers for free.

★★★★★Sharyn Arai

Our kid has attended YFA camps for a few years now and has really enjoyed them. Everyone at YFA seems to really enjoy being there for these kids and teaching them how to make movies. And the premiers are so fun! Cleveland is such a great place to work in the film industry. YFA is so important to our community and so wonderful for our kids. Highly recommend!

★★★★★Mrs. Holland

My daughter participated in the summer camp for four years and loved it! She learned a lot about film making and the realities of actors working on-set. Overall, this is a wonderful organization for children and teens who enjoy creative and/or technical pursuits. I still cannot believe they have chosen to make the camp free for all students-- we paid and felt it was well worth it!