ABOUT US
Our mission.
YSFF is a platform that uplifts unique student voices from around the world. We seek to amplify stories that only students can tell, and build global and local communities of young filmmakers who can support each other as they enter the entertainment industry.
Our work.
Yale Student Film Festival is a four-day event dedicated to promoting the next generation of filmmakers. It attracts submissions from student filmmakers worldwide, while also showcasing Yale filmmakers and fostering a campus-wide celebration of their work. The festival connects student filmmakers, creates meaningful connections, artistic collaborations, and lasting friendships.
Our history.
The Yale Student Film Festival was founded in 2015 to highlight the small, but growing community of filmmakers on Yale’s campus, who create work outside of a traditional film school environment. The event began as a collaboration between Yale Film Alliance, Yale Film Study Center, Yale Film and Media Studies Program, Films at the Whitney, and the Yale College Dean’s Office, and has since grown into its own student organization.
Over the course of the last decade, more than 9000 student films have been submitted to us from over 50 countries. This international reach reflects YSFF’s commitment to promote diverse voices and perspectives in filmmaking. In 2022, we expanded our festival with a high school category, and selected nine high schoolers from around the country, allowing younger students to get to know undergraduate filmmakers and Yale’s campus.
