Still have Questions?
Join WQED Film Academy—in-person or virtually—to learn how to become a digital storyteller.
WQED Film Academy draws on its partnership with teaching artists and professional mentors to teach a curriculum of the basics of digital media arts – what we call SCALE: storytelling, camera, audio, lighting, and editing. The curriculum is more than 100 hours of hands-on and collaborative learning and uses the latest digital media technology.
Each class produces their own short film by the end of the session.
There are three sessions per year: Summer, Fall and Spring. Scholarships are available.
Upon successful completion of WQED Film Academy, students can apply to the Teen Film Crew. The Teen Film Crew gets paid while they continue to build their skills creating promotional videos for clients. The teaching artists work with the students as a team – just as they would in a professional agency.
Enrollment for In Person Film Academy
FALL SESSION
September 26th through December 19th, 2024
Open to 9th through 12th grade students
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm-8pm
In our WQED studios
Enrollment for Virtual Film Academy
FALL SESSION
- September 25th through December 20th, 2024
- 4:30pm-6:00pm, on Zoom
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Includes a “film at home” kit (pictured, valued at $600) to be shipped to students, theirs to keep!
Scholarships for Point Park Cinema Arts —
exclusively for WQED Film Academy.
Point Park University has graciously offered TWO $5,000/year ($20,000 total) scholarships to their Cinema & Arts Department! To qualify, students must complete a semester of WQED Film Academy—by Spring for Fall Point Park enrollment.
Check out the experience from the perspective of the 2023 graduating class.
WQED Film Academy Mission
To provide a professional pathway to support a growing industry of diverse filmmakers and digital storytellers in the Southwestern PA region and beyond.
Our Vision
The region has a diverse, thriving film and digital media industry that welcomes, embraces and supports all with equal opportunities to learn, work and grow their craft.
Hear from Our Teaching Artists
Being a teaching artist is probably one of the most fulfilling jobs I have ever had. The opportunity to help guide and mentor aspiring young artists is an awesome responsibility and an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s cliche to say that I have learned so much from teaching them, but it’s true. They push me to be a better artist and a more patient and compassionate person. Working with them makes me so optimistic for the future.
—Ian Altenbaugh, Teaching Artist
I love working with the teens because their inquisitiveness and ambitions challenge my assumptions of what’s possible.
I’ve been working in media for over 18 years. While it’s important to teach the teens how we approach things as an industry as a teaching artist, their priorities and vision surprise and delight me every week I’m involved.
—Edwin Huang, Teaching Artist
I love working at WQED Film Academy. Getting the chance not only to teach, but to collaborate and create with our emerging young filmmakers is an incredible experience. It’s a privilege to share the profound joy of cinema with this next generation of artists.
—Jon Lefkovitz, Teaching Artist