AFF Youth

Make a scene!

AFF Youth is an offshoot of the acclaimed Adelaide Film Festival — an opportunity for South Australian students and young people to experience the power of film, make industry connections, and share their own stories on the big screen.

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"Being part of the AFF Youth Jury was an incredible experience that I’ll never forget. My knowledge of film grew immensely, and I had the amazing opportunity to meet industry people, including those from organisations such as Carclew. Since then, I’ve been inspired to continue pursuing filmmaking and am currently working on a film that I hope to submit to the Adelaide Youth Film Festival this year."
Violet, AFF Youth Jury member

"Having a local opportunity like this was a great way for my friends and I to develop skills in filmmaking and acting. It was amazing to see our work shown on the big screen and we were all glad to have been able to work together on this project. We are excited to collaborate on new films in the future!"
Gabriel, Filmmaker

"What I enjoyed most of the whole experience was seeing other young people's creativity. I really would recommend participating because you can choose any topic you like in any medium of film. All the entries were so different from each other, it was brilliant."
Percy, Filmmaker

Schools Screening Day

Wed 22 Oct | Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas

AFF Youth School Screening Day is a chance for students to build their film language and cultural understanding by engaging with hand-picked premier films for young people alongside work by their peers.

AFF Youth Gala

Thur 23 Oct | The Mercury

Nominated films from the AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition will be presented and awarded at the AFF Youth Gala, where young filmmakers will have the chance to walk the red carpet, get their photo snapped and see their work on the big screen in front of a full cinema.

Nominated Films 2025

Best Primary School Film:

If They Only Knew (Blaise Childs-Fergie, Christian Hyrchel)
Kadli: The Missing Dog (Eli Mitchell)

Best Middle School Film:

Wrong Time (Jake McCormack)
Today's Mission (Lucas Mark Poynter)
Meanwhile the World Goes On (Fahad Salman Khan)

Best Senior School Film:

Reconnection (Leah Newby)
додому (Home) (Sasha Anna Babina)
The Art of Skating (Mia Victoria Schaefer)
Butcher's Best (Caitlin Vass)
There Were Consequences (Jonah Reed)
Let's Live for Tonight (Chase Bradshaw)

AFF Youth 2025 program

AFF Youth Gala

A special night for young filmmakers and families of the nominated films from the AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition.

Maya, Give Me a Title

Michel Gondry writes features, makes the coolest videos, and has the cutest daughter in the universe. He phones her every evening, and asks “Maya, give me a title,” then creates low-tech animations like Maya in the sea with a bottle of ketchup. Maya’s fantastic voyages will have the little ones dreaming, and the grown-ups smiling.

Speak.

All-American teens Esther, Noor, Noah, Mfaz and Sam spend their year juggling the highs and lows of high school life, while preparing for the world’s largest and most intense public speaking competition, the NSDA Nationals. With just nine minutes to make their mark, they rail against life’s obstacles and prejudices to be heard.