Facets Children’s Programs and the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival

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

For Kids:

Facets Kids Film Camp

For two decades, Facets Kids Film Camp has given kids (ages 7-14) a real foundation in the technique, language and process of film making. Using expert instruction, professional filmmakers and respected critics involve kids in what it takes to understand and create a film, from conception to premiere!

Instruction includes: the basics of film production techniques; a foundation in film theory and criticism; and dozens of hands-on activities including: storyboarding, screenwriting, acting, writing reviews and making a movie. Graduates can also be a part of the Children’s Jury for the Chicago International Children’s Film festival and have the opportunity to travel the world as part of the Facets Film Ambassadors program. LEARN MORE!

Take One! Workshops

These classes provide children with an unprecedented opportunity to benefit from the knowledge and experience of accomplished media professionals. Welcoming actors, screenwriters, filmmakers, animators and critics who conduct intensive hands-on master classes with children and youth. Workshops are offered throughout the year and during the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (Oct/Nov).

Submit a Film

Are you a budding filmmaker who has made a movie? Then submit your film for a chance to 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 Young Filmmakers (Ages 18 & under). Entry Deadline, May 31. SUBMISSION DETAILS

Films produced by Young Filmmakers ages 14 & younger are eligible for the Young Filmmakers Montgomery Award, which carries a prize of $2500!

Children’s Jury

The 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!

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:

Facets Membership

Attention all young film fans! If you’d like to be a part of today’s film scene, there’s no better way to start than this! Become a FACETS MEMBER and join the ranks of other young film fanatics to take advantage of everything Facets has to offer! MORE INFO!

Facets Kids Film Camp

For two decades, Facets Kids Film Camp has given kids (ages 11-14) a real foundation in the technique, language and process of film making. Using expert instruction, professional filmmakers and respected critics involve kids in what it takes to understand and create a film, from conception to premiere!

Instruction includes: the basics of film production techniques; a foundation in film theory and criticism; and dozens of hands-on activities including: storyboarding, screenwriting, acting, writing reviews and making a movie. Graduates can also be a part of the Children’s Jury for the Chicago International Children’s Film festival and have the opportuinity to travel the world as part of the Facets Film Ambassadors program. LEARN MORE!

Submit a Film

Films produced by Young Filmmakers ages 14 & younger are eligible for the Young Filmmakers Montgomery Award, which carries a prize of $2500!

Take One! Workshops

Youth Jury

The Youth Jury, for teens ages 15-18, screen films made by their peers (youth ages 15-18) to be shown as part of the upcoming Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.

Facets Film Ambassadors

Facets and the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF) give YOU the opportunity to visit another country as a Facets Film Ambassador international film festival youth delegate. Facets has collaborative partnerships with film festivals around the world that will allow us to send lucky delegates to jury films, attend filmmaking workshops, and much more! For ages 13-17. LEARN MORE!

Facets longstanding collaborative partnerships with the Carrousel International Film Festival of Rimouski in Quebec, the Golden Elephant Film Festival in Hyderabad, India, and the Giffoni International Film Festival in Southern Italy (the largest children’s film festival in Europe) allow young ‘delegates’ the chance to sit on film juries, attend filmmaking workshops, and meet fellow cinephiles who hail from across the world. The program also offers two filmmaking camps in Seoul, Korea, in which participants learn to create a short film which is then screened at the Seoul International Youth Film Festival, the largest youth film festival in Korea.

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!