The Youth in Video Program (YIV) inspires and teaches minority and at-risk youth the art of filmmaking. Since its inception ten years ago, the program has produced more than 25 films including the award-winning film “Silent Shadows” which was acquired by HBO. The 2002 YIV film “Chávez 101” won the San Francisco International Film Festival Award for Best Youth Work and in 2005 the YIV film “La Llorona” was awarded Best Documentary at the Santa Barbara Youth Film Festival.

Youth in Video has expanded internationally to include a program in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The program's first film, “Youth Together”, was created by a group of Muslim and Jewish teens and was selected for screening at the 2006 Chicago Latino Film Festival.

The goal of the YIV program is to expose at-risk youth to the art of filmmaking in a bilingual, bicultural environment and to encourage young talent. Students learn the filmmaking process from start to finish including script writing, the use of cameras and auxiliary equipment (mics, booms, lights, etc.), creating the structure of a film, acting, developing and conducting interviews, editing, post-production, marketing and final presentation. The students learn the value of teamwork and the long hours that go into making a worthwhile film.

Each student is encouraged to contribute his or her unique talents and skills to the creation of the project. Students are asked to think creatively, to cultivate their imaginations and apply their ideas using the skills they are exposed to through the YIV program. With the final presentation of the works they produce, the students are also given the opportunity to experience the audience response to their work, and participate in a direct dialogue with the audience in the form of a Q&A session.

The completed projects from the YIV program are screened each year during the International Latino Film Festival - San Francisco Bay Area.


View our 2007 Festival Trailer , produced by Youth In Video in Argentina.

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