summer filmmaking Camps
for kids & teens

Film Camp for 5th–8th graders
Dates: July 6–10, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Location: Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts
1164 West Howard St., Winona, MN 55987

  • Description: This introductory camp gives students hands-on experience with “Who Dunnit” story development, filming, lighting, audio, and editing. Campers explore all production elements—including set design, acting, and costuming—while practicing with professional equipment as well as their own phones. Each film is screened for families and featured at a Frozen River Film Festival event in 2027. This camp may be partnered with FRFF Camp Extended Care for an all day experience.

  • Enrollment: 30 students with the option to expand if both parties agree

  • Cost: $280

Film Camp for 9th–12th graders
Dates: July 13–17 & 20–24 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts
1164 West Howard St., Winona, MN 55987

  • Description: Designed for older students, this intensive provides deeper training in all stages of filmmaking. Participants work alongside professional filmmakers and gain experience using cameras, lighting kits, audio gear, editing software, and their own phones for mobile filmmaking techniques. Students strengthen leadership and collaboration skills while producing a polished short film. Final projects are shown at a family screening and featured at a Frozen River Film Festival event in 2027.

  • Enrollment: 30 students with the option to expand if both parties agree

  • Cost: $350

Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts and Frozen River Film Festival are partnering to bring you a Summer Filmmaking Intensive experience includes activities and projects focused on team building, storytelling, and creative problem solving. Participants will learn from industry professionals and can expect hands-on experience operating cameras, three-point lighting kits, audio equipment, and editing software. Students will emerge with stronger leadership skills, experience working with professional filmmakers, and new friends with common interests in the creative arts. The creative works produced will be featured at a Frozen River Film Festival event later in the year.

Register

Frequently Asked Questions

    • 5th–8th graders: July 6–10, 2026, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

    • Film Camp for 9th–12th graders: July 13–17 & 20–24, 2026, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM

    • Film Camp for 5th–8th graders: $280 (one week)

    • Film Camp for 9th–12th graders: $350 (two weeks)

  • Registration closes at 11:59 pm on the following days for each section of camp:

    • Film Camp for 5th–8th graders: June 8th

    • Film Camp for 9th–12th graders: June 15th

  • Yes! For an additional $100, registered campers can enroll in the Winona Arts Camp Wraparound Care program and be able to be dropped off at MCA as early as 7:30 am and picked up as late as 5:30 pm each day. Click on this link to register through your existing family account or create a new one to claim your spot today! 

  • All campers need to bring their own sack lunch, beverages, and one or two snacks per day. It is also highly recommended that all participants bring a reusable, sealed water bottle with them throughout the duration of the camp.

    Please have campers bring their own phone for filming! (Don’t have a phone? We have some ipads available as needed)

  • Detail underway

FRFF & MCA are currently seeking sponsors and donors to support tuition waivers for the 2026 summer camps. If cost is a barrier for your family, please know that we hope to have tuition waivers available later this spring!

Professional, affordable and FUN filmmaking education is accessible to families of every income level thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, grantors and donors. To make affordable filmmaking education available to Winona area youth, please consider donating to the FRFF Education Fund.

Funds are used to pay film artist-educators, purchase supplies, and ensure lack of lunch is not a barrier for any of our students.

Contribute to the FRFF Education Fund

Meet the Team

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.