Local Youth Film Festival Celebrating 10 Years!
February 11, 2025
MyView Youth Film Festival is ready to launch its Tenth Anniversary for 2025! Kemptville’s McGahey Insurance and Grenville Mutual Insurance have again teamed up to provide the $1000 grand prize. In addition to the grand prize, there is also a $750 “I Love My Community” prize sponsored by EXIT Realty Eastern Ontario, a $500 YMCA of Eastern Ontario prize and a $500 prize for best original song and music video sponsored by Jamming Around Man Productions. New this year is a “Best of the Fest” prize chosen by the public from the grand prize winning films of the nine previous MyView festivals.
This creative film-making contest is open to all youth ages 10-24 that live, work or play in eastern Ontario (see www.myviewfilmfest.ca for list of eligible counties). MyView is eager to collaborate again with the YMCA of Eastern Ontario in the planning, promotion and sponsorship of this great community engagement initiative. Also new is a partnership with the Ontario Youth Film Festival. Winners and nominees in the 14-17 year old age category can move forward to compete in that exiting provincial festival that takes place in the fall.
Young people are encouraged to pick up their phones or cameras and make a short video that celebrates something in their life or community; shows a solution to a problem or showcases their opinion! Thanks to McGahey Insurance, Grenville Mutual Insurance, Exit Realty, YMCA of Eastern Ontario, J.A.M. Productions and YourTV for donating great prizes to the winners in the following categories:
- Best Overall Video – $1000
- I Love My Community – $750
- Best Original Song & Music Video – $500
- YMCA Award – $500
- Age Category Prizes (10-13; 14-17; 18-24)
- *Best of the Fest* 10 Year Anniversary Award
The deadline for video submission is May 1 and youth can submit multiple films individually or as a group. Encourage young people you know to get out into their communities to look for inspiration. There is no shortage of interesting topics to explore. Past winners have addressed a variety of topics from mental well-being and body image to the cost of post-secondary education and everything in between. Wendy Embleton from Exit Realty had this to say about the I Love My Community category, “Parents may get to choose their home town, but it is wonderful when young people highlight how they appreciate their community. We look forward to seeing the entries for 2025!”
Judging criteria heavily favours the content of the videos over the production elements, in hopes of encouraging all eligible youth, regardless of their level of experience in film-making and production, to participate and share their stories.
For more information on contest rules or judging criteria, or to see past year’s submissions and winners, visit our socials @myviewfilmfest, check out www.myviewfilmfest.ca or email [email protected].
Contact
Rebecca Shams
[email protected]
Health Promoter & MyView Film Festival Committee Member
South East Health Unit (formerly Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit)
Cell: 613-802-8051