Our popular film camps, now in their 7th year, have been enjoyed by kids from all over the world.
Using our extensive film knowledge and experience, we teach industry filmmaking techniques.
We don't just teach the kids how to make films. We help them find opportunities to screen them and organize our own showings.
The Sarasota Film Academy offers popular live and online film camps and after-school programs to kids 7-13 (elementary to middle school) in sunny Sarasota, Florida. Our unique curriculum is taught by film professionals with decades of industry experience in Hollywood who work as educators for such institutions as the Ringling College of Art & Design, Full Sail University and the Sarasota Film Festival. Our instructors will keep your kids entertained, and learning 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 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.
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.
NEW IN 2025: We teach the campers how to enhance their creativity with GENERATIVE AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)
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.
NEW IN 2025: We teach the campers how to enhance their creativity with GENERATIVE AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)
This week will take a deep dive into YouTube, one of the most popular media platforms of today, with nearly 3 billion monthly users! The campers will learn the ins and outs of making YouTube videos, focusing on dozens of popular types of content they can make. We will study how YouTubers like Mr. Beast became the most popular creators in the world and teach the campers how to use the necessary filming equipment, how to edit using the industry-standard Adobe Premiere, and how to start their own YouTube channels. We will also teach the campers how to be safe on the internet and the principles of being good digital media citizens. We will showcase everything created during the week in a screening on the last day of camp.
NEW IN 2025: We teach the campers how to enhance their creativity with GENERATIVE AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)
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.
NEW IN 2025: We teach the campers how to enhance their creativity with GENERATIVE AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)
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 at Ringling College of Art & Design, Full Sail University, and South New Hampshire University. Paul is currently the Managing Director of the Sarasota Film Festival.
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.
