Youth Filmmaking in Skopelos, Greece.
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
The Skopelos Foundation for the Arts (SkopArt)Children will work with international professional filmmakers to make short films based on memories.
$6,775
raised by 19 people
$10,000 goal
SIFFY 2021 is a Go!
Hello Everyone!
I apologize for not updating everyone on the status. It was touch and go for a while because we were not sure if we were going to be vaccinated in Greece. All of a sudden the majority of the islanders are vaccinated and we have been rushing to put everything together.
We now have 10 filmmakers and 60 children participating. We will make 9 short films with the kids based on the theme "Freedom". We changed 2021 theme to adapt to the circumstances. Originally we were going to work with the theme "Memories" but we thought it was more suitable to change it based on the metaphor for coming out of lockdown or "Freedom".
In order to ensure people's safety, all adults associated with SIFFY are vaccinated and the children will have to be tested at least once during the festival.
If you want to see information about the festival or past films, please go here.
I will update you with the finished films in August.
Thanks again for all of your support. It is not going to waste!
Jill Somer
Skopelos International Film Festival for Youth (SIFFY)
2021 will be our 10th anniversary which we can hardly believe. Each year 130 children collaborate with 16 professional filmmakers from around the world to create short films that are screened to approximately 1000 people at the Skopelos Amphitheater. The films are then sent to youth festivals throughout the world.
We begin by teaching the children about a yearly theme. Next year our theme is "Memories" so we will teach them how we recall memories from our senses, the experience of Alzheimer's and dementia, talking about items that bring up memories, other people's memories such as the children's parents or grandparents, and much more.
The festival needs one year of preparation to make it happen. In order to ensure that we do not have problems during the eight days of the festival, we plan, organize and then organize again. Any child may participate from the age of 6 to 18 and are enrolled on a first come/first serve basis. Some children from overseas are also included, which we welcome.
We build teams of eight kids, one professional filmmaker and one assistant filmmaker who work together to make a short film. It is the responsibility of the children to build the scenario, manage the camera, and act. The editing is mostly performed by the filmmakers, but the older kids can edit the films themselves in some cases. The children have the opportunity to sit with the filmmaker to learn about the process of editing.
We have 65 incredible volunteers from Skopelos and abroad working with the filmmakers and kids. We have over 20 local sponsors supporting the festival as well.
This is more than a youth film festival, an experience that brings people from all over the world together. Interacting with the young people of Skopelos, the multinational team of filmmakers enhances both of their perceptions.
SIFFY in Skopelos has become a household name. In 2020, we created only one film with 6 kids because of COVID-19. So many kids, parents and grandparents approached us and told us how much they missed SIFFY in 2020. There is no way that next year we will disappoint the community. SIFFY must go on!
Any amount of money makes a difference. This is a tax deductible donation in the US through the Skopelos Foundation for the Arts which is a 501(C)(3).
For more information, please visit our website.
Check out the SIFFY magic below: