CALL FOR YOUTH FILMMAKERS: 2018 ALEXANDER VALLEY FILM SOCIETY STUDENT FILM COMPETITION

The Alexander Valley Film Society (AVFS) is accepting submissions for the 2018 AVFS Student Film Competition.

Winners will be screened at the Alexander Valley Film Festival October 18-21, 2018. The 2018 competition is a collaboration between AVFS, the Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County, the Sonoma County Office of Education, and multiple school districts throughout Sonoma County. Consultants to the project include Debbie Mason: Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County, Cloverdale High School teachers Joe Dobbins and Wendy Connor, Healdsburg High School teacher John Chevalier, Geyserville New Tech Academy Educator Rick Klug, Dr. Adrienne Heinz: Clinical Research Psychologist, National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, and Bruce Le: local filmmaker with nearly 20 years of experience in TV and Film.

This project is designed to offer an opportunity for healing and meaning making after loss. It may be used by educators for curriculum, extra credit, or an extracurricular activity. If not part of a class activity, students are allowed to do the project outside of class, on their own time.

Below are several resources for supportive mental health literature to be disseminated to all students involved. If students or teachers feel distressed at any time during the project, here are sample grounding exercises. If referrals are needed for any reason, please the resource section below. The intent is not for students to relive terrifying moments but for us to learn what happened for students and what they have made of it.

Cash prizes of $150 will be offered for Best Middle School Film and Best High School Film. The overall winner will receive the JOSEPH CARNATION, JR. STUDENT FILM AWARD and a cash prize of $250 in honor of late supporter, career educator, and student advocate, Joe Carnation.

ELIGIBILITY/GUIDELINES: https://www.avfilmsociety.org/student-film-competition