summer filmmaking Camps for kids & teens
The Frozen River Film Festival 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.
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.
FRFF staff are currently seeking sponsors and donors to support tuition waivers for the 2024 summer camps. If cost is a barrier for your family, please know that we hope to have tuition waivers available later this spring!
About the Instructors
Dr. Danielle B. Schwartz is Assistant Professor of Film Studies and English at Winona State University, where she teaches courses on transnational cinema, teen films, and film production.
She spent five years working across many facets of the film industry, including development, production, and Behind-The-Scenes marketing content on both independent films and mainstream Hollywood productions. One of Danielle’s main goals is giving back to the community, and as such she has instructed youth and adult filmmaking workshops in association with Frozen River Film Festival and Winona State University.
She is currently producing a documentary on the history of the FRFF.
Blake Darst provides video production and technical photography for arts and community organizations and small businesses in SE Minnesota. His multimedia background spans photojournalism and several design agencies in Winona. Along the way, professional video functions came to digital cameras, and Blake's workflow followed suit. He favors a Blackmagic cinema rig but is eyeing Panasonic's latest Lumix offerings.
Blake served one term on the Frozen River Film Festival board of directors and remains an active friend of the festival. His young family lives in town. They love the Winona Public Library and their cowboy corgi, Annie Oakley.