SARASOTA FILM ACADEMY

film camps and afterschool film programs for kids

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Film Camps

During vacation weeks and summer months, we offer popular film camps. Now in their fourth year, the camps have been enjoyed by kids from all over the world.

Film Classes

Using our extensive film knowledge and experience, we teach industry filmmaking techniques.

Screening opportunities

We don't just teach the kids how to make films. We help them find opportunities to screen them and organize our own showings.

About Us

The Sarasota Film Academy offers popular live and online film camps and after-school programs to kids 7-13 in sunny Sarasota, Florida. Our unique curriculum is taught by film professionals with decades of industry experience in Hollywood as well as educators from the 25-year-old Sarasota Film Festival, an event of world renown. Our instructors will keep your kids learning, entertained, and occupied in the safety of their homes, enriched with an invaluable skill set for our times.

Filmmakers learn in a fun, conservatory model where each student gets to experience different film-related professions. The students will also truly understand the value of teamwork and collaboration.

The finished projects have public screenings for family and friends at the end of each week of camp or month of after-school programs.

The Location

The location of this year’s camps is the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center in beautiful downtown Sarasota (525 Kumquat Ct, Sarasota, FL, United States, Florida). We are excited to host our young filmmakers in such a fun venue, with both indoor and outdoor components. 

Summer Camps

July 10 – 14, 2023

9AM-2:00 PM EST

This camp is for all adventure film fans our there, whether it’s “Indiana Jones,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” or sci-fi adventures like “Star Wars,” the MCU Universe (“Avengers,” “Iron Man”, etc), superhero films like “Wonder Woman” or “Spiderman.” The campers will learn how to make adventure movies, focusing on screenwriting, cinematography, VFX, directing, and acting. We will teach the campers how to use the necessary filming equipment, including cameras, lights and green screens, as well as how to edit in industry-standard Adobe Premiere. We will also learn much film history, watching and analyzing clips from many great genre movies. We will showcase all the films created in a screening on the last day of camp. 

COST: $270

REGISTER

June 26 – 30, 2023

SOLD OUT

This camp is for everyone who loves creating in different genres. Whether you love comedy, fantasy, sci-hi, horror, buddy cop comedies, road movies, romances or anything in between, you will learn to combine genres in this fun and innovative film camp . The campers will learn how to make short mashup films, focusing on understanding genres, screenwriting, cinematography, VFX, directing, and acting, and producing.  We will teach the campers how to use the necessary filming equipment, including cameras, lights and green screens, as well as how to edit in industry-standard Adobe Premiere. We will also learn much film history, watching and analyzing clips from many great genre movies. We will showcase all the films created in a screening on the last day of camp. 

June 12 – 16, 2023

SOLD OUT

The campers will learn the ins and outs of making social media videos, from TikTok to Youtube vlogs, Instagram influencer videos, gameplay videos, comedy skits, and more. We will teach the campers how to use the necessary filming equipment, how to edit using the industry-standard Adobe Premiere, and how to start your own social media channel. We will also teach the campers how to be safe on the internet and the principles of being good digital media citizens. We will discuss the history of social media, learn about Youtube stars, and more. We will showcase everything created during the week in a screening on the last day of camp. 

June 19 – 23, 2023

SOLD OUT

The camp for everyone who loves Harry Potter, the films of Miyazaki, Lord of the Rings, tales of wizards and magical beings.  The campers will learn how to make short fantasy films, focusing on screenwriting, cinematography, VFX, directing, and acting, and producing.  We will teach the campers how to use the necessary filming equipment, including cameras, lights and green screens, as well as how to edit in industry-standard Adobe Premiere. We will also learn much film history, watching and analyzing clips from classic fantasy movies. We will showcase all the films created in a screening on the last day of camp. 

Our Team

Paul Ratner

Paul is a writer and filmmaker. His award-winning films like “Moses on the Mesa”and “The Caveman of Atomic City”, have played at numerous festivals around the world. Prior to moving to Sarasota, Paul lived and worked in Hollywood for over 12 years in a variety of capacities as a writer, director, and development executive, collaborating with top agencies (WME) and studios (Universal, Paramount) to develop and package film and TV projects. Paul has a Master’s in film and television from Chapman University and a Bachelor of Theater Arts degree from Cornell University. He has taught film previously at Full Sail University and South New Hampshire University. Paul is currently the Managing Director of the Sarasota Film Festival.

Petra Ratner

Petra Ratner has worked in film, commercials, and television for over 17 years. She worked as an assistant director on such Hollywood films as “Hostel”, “Alien vs Predator,” and “Doom”. She also coordinated the art department on the blockbuster “Wanted”, starring Angelina Jolie and James McAcavoy. Petra has produced commercials, feature documentaries and over a dozen award-winning short films which played at 50+ film festivals around the world. She currently works as the Director of Development and Events for the Sarasota Film Festival, produces film and television projects both in the U.S. and internationally, and is an exhibited painter.

Russell Bradley Fenton

Russell Bradley Fenton is an actor and screenwriter with over 10 years experience working in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. Outside of Hollywood, he has worked regionally in the film industry in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Boston, and now Florida. Russell has acted opposite Billy Crudup (Where’d You Go, Bernadette) and Carla Gugino (Manhunt) and has worked with acclaimed director Richard Linklater. His acting credits include Manhunt (Netflix), Secrets in the Snow (Lifetime), and The Snowball Effect (UPtv) as well as film festival favorites, Valley of Ditches and The Dinner Parting. Russell has a degree in Theatre from the College of William and Mary and has post-graduate training in Los Angeles at the Groundlings, Upright Citizen’s Brigade, and LA Connections Comedy. He continues to work professionally as an actor while building his credits as a screenwriter; he currently has several projects in development from tv series to features. Russell is originally from Virginia and currently resides in Sarasota with his wife and dog.

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