March 9, 2026 - April 22, 2026
We are dedicated to the creativity of emerging student film makers and young artists. We invite short films that highlight original storytelling and technical skill for the Saginaw Art Museum & Gardens 2026 Youth Arts Festival.
Accepted films will be showcased in an evening event on Day 1 of the festival, Friday, May 7th (time TBD, will be open to the public) and also on loop in our Video Gallery for Day 2 on Saturday, May 9th.
Eligibility:
-Submissions can come from individual students, groups of students, schools, classrooms, and afterschool programs.
-Students and schools must be living in or attending a school in Saginaw, Midland, or Bay County.
-Students working on the film must be 18 or under.
-A teacher or parent can help facilitate, but it should be mostly student-led.
-Films by individual students can submit up to 2 films. Please fill out separate forms for each film.
-Films submitted by teachers/schools on behalf of various students’ class projects can have multiple submissions. Please fill out separate forms for each film.
Film Requirements:
-The theme of the festival is “Where Wonder Grows.” The film does not have to follow this theme, but can be a point of inspiration.
-Films films can be animated (this includes stop motion: clay, paper, Lego, etc (example app: Stop Motion Studio) or traditional/digital animation (example apps: Brush Ninja, FlipaClip, Animation Paper, Pencil 2D, Krita, Open Tunes) live-action, or an interactive slideshow.
-Length: Minimum 30 seconds, Maximum of 6 minutes.
-Format: MP4 file with 1080 pixels.
-All genres are welcome (narrative, documentary, educational, aesthetic).
-Content must be appropriate for a general audience. No swearing.
-Films can be silent, have music, or dialogue. Subtitles are a great addition but not required.
-Films are preferably filmed standard landscape perspective vs. an upright vertical phone orientation.
-Please include a beginning slide that states the title of the film and ending credits of filmmakers at the end of the film.
-If a non-original script, story, or song is used, please mention its origin in the ending credits.
-No blooper reel.
How to Send:
-Please send a Google Drive link that includes the MP4 file of film (labeled “Film Title_Student Name/School”) to katie@mytemplearts.org by April 22.
You will be notified if your film is accepted by the Youth Arts Council by April 25.