The 18th Annual National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) Brings Together a Diverse Lineup of Emerging Filmmakers

This year’s NFFTY festival promises to be an exciting and engaging event, featuring 60% of films directed by women and nonbinary-identifying people, and over 50% helmed by persons of color. The festival will take place at SIFF Cinema Uptown, with a gala opening-night ceremony and then move over to the other two screens, as well as offsite events at the Cornish Playhouse and the VERA Project. One of the highlights of the festival will be the keynote address delivered by celebrated filmmaker Sav Rodgers, who will also be available to interact with this year’s crop of young filmmakers showcasing their shorts at the fest. chasing chasing Amy filmmaker Sav Rodgers returns to the festival, this time as a mentor, after attending the festival as a young filmmaker himself. The NFFTY festival aims to inspire and shape the future of filmmakers. According to Rodgers, the festival “changed my life” and has helped him reflect on his work and push himself to work even harder. Rodgers will be sharing his experiences making Chasing Chasing Amy and how the festival has helped him become the filmmaker he is today. “I was lucky enough to play at NFFTY right before I aged out,” Rodgers said. “That was something I was very proud of. To be able to return now in any capacity is wonderful, let alone being able to share my experiences making Chasing Chasing Amy with young filmmakers coming up right now.” He is excited to pay it forward and learn from the new generation of filmmakers.
The festival will feature a diverse lineup of emerging filmmakers from 29 states and 31 countries, showcasing a wide range of stories and perspectives. Chasing Chasing Amy is a documentary that explores the relationship between art and film, and how these two mediums can have a transformative effect on an individual. Rodgers’ experiences making Chasing Chasing Amy have taught him the importance of perseverance and the value of building community through film. “I was raised as an athlete,” he said. “I played a lot of sports. When I see people performing at a high level, I am inspired, and I aspire to get up there [with them].” This mindset has helped him push himself to work harder and strive for excellence in his craft. The festival will also provide a platform for emerging filmmakers to share their work and connect with other industry professionals. “I’m excited about the opportunity to learn from them, first and foremost,” Rodgers said. “I think we can learn so much from sharing. I hope I see an incredible work that makes me think about things I maybe would not have when I make my next film.”
Rodgers’ message to the new generation of filmmakers is clear: don’t wait for permission. Build your own communities and tell your stories by any ethical and safe means necessary. He believes that this approach will help to create a more inclusive and diverse film industry. The 18th annual NFFTY festival will take place from April 3 to April 6, with events held at SIFF Cinema Uptown and offsite locations. The festival promises to be an exciting and engaging event, showcasing the talents of emerging filmmakers from around the world. In 2019, Rodgers attended NFFTY as a young filmmaker and was inspired by the festival’s energy and creativity. “NFFTY changed my life,” he said. “It feels like yesterday I brought my own short film to the festival. It’s crazy to think I’m coming back as a mentor.”
The festival will also include a keynote address by celebrated filmmaker Sav Rodgers, who will share his experiences making Chasing Chasing Amy and the lessons he has learned along the way. According to Rodgers, the festival has helped him become the filmmaker he is today. Chasing Chasing Amy is a documentary that explores the relationship between art and film, and how these two mediums can have a transformative effect on an individual. The film follows Rodgers’ journey as he explores the intersection of art and film, and how these two mediums can be used to tell stories that matter. The 18th annual NFFTY festival promises to be an exciting and engaging event, showcasing the talents of emerging filmmakers from around the world. With its diverse lineup of films and events, the festival is sure to provide a platform for emerging filmmakers to share their work and connect with other industry professionals. This year’s festival will feature a range of films showcasing diverse voices and perspectives. Chasing Chasing Amy is just one example of the many films that will be featured at the festival. The film’s exploration of the relationship between art and film is sure to resonate with audiences, and its message of perseverance and creativity is sure to inspire. The NFFTY festival is a unique opportunity for emerging filmmakers to showcase their work and connect with other industry professionals. Don’t miss out on the chance to experience this exciting and engaging event.