Summer camps 2027.
In 2026, we welcomed 50 families and over 500 attendees to our summer camps. And we're doing it all over again in 2027!
✦ psst: grab the photos and move them around
Kids don't just watch the movies. They make them.
Last summer, 50 families and more than 500 attendees filled our studios, edit bays, and screening room. Campers walked in on Monday with an idea and walked out at the end of the week with a finished film or animation, screened on the big screen in front of the people who love them most.
Media is the language young people speak every day. Our camps teach them to write it, shoot it, draw it, and edit it themselves, with the same tools professionals use and working artists guiding every step. And because tuition should never decide who gets to create, 100% need-based scholarships make sure every young artist in our community has a seat at the table.
A finished piece of work
Every camper leaves with a completed short film or animation they can share, keep, and build on.
Real tools, real skills
Hands-on time with professional cameras, lights, sound gear, and animation software on iMac workstations.
Teamwork on set
Campers learn to collaborate like a real crew: listening, problem-solving, and trusting each other to get the shot.
Confidence to share
Seeing their work screened for a room full of families builds pride, voice, and the courage to keep creating.
Mentors who make work
Campers learn from working artists and meet guest filmmakers and animators through our Meet the Artist series.
A path forward
Media arts touch every industry. Camp is often the first step toward a creative practice, a portfolio, or a career.
Four camps. One unforgettable summer.
Middle School Animation
June 8–12, 2027
✦ Applications open January 2027High School Animation
June 15–19, 2027
✦ Applications open January 2027Middle School Filmmaking
July 13–17, 2027
✦ Applications open January 2027High School Filmmaking
July 20–24, 2027
✦ Applications open January 2027A finished film. A finished animation. A finished week.
Animation Academy
For kids who love drawing, digital art, or storytelling.
Each camper works at their own iMac with professional animation software. They build their own short animated project from concept to final render, then watch it screen with everyone else's at the end of the week.
- Software: Adobe Animate on iMac workstations
- Skills: Character design, timing, motion, squash & stretch
- Plus: Rotoscoping, voiceover, sound integration
- Meet the Artist series with guest animators
Filmmaking Academy
For kids curious about storytelling and collaboration.
Campers work together as a real film crew. They write, direct, shoot, and edit their own short film, rotating through on-set roles using real cameras, lighting, and sound gear in our production studios.
- Roles: Director, cinematographer, sound operator, editor
- Skills: Framing, lighting, audio capture, picture editing
- Gear: Real cinema cameras, professional lights & sound
- Meet the Artist series with guest filmmakers
All-inclusive, no hidden fees.
Four steps in.
Pick a camp
Choose the session that fits your camper's age and interest from the 2027 dates above.
Submit the app
Fill out the application online in January. Need support? Apply for a need-based scholarship at the same time.
Get notified
We review applications and let you know by email. Check the inbox you used to apply.
Lock in your spot
Pay in full, choose 4 monthly installments at checkout, or accept your scholarship.
✦ Camps are small and spots go fast. Mark January 2027 on your calendar.
Tuition shouldn't be the barrier.
Full-tuition scholarships for 2027.
We're offering 100% scholarship spots for the 2027 summer camps. Scholarships are need-based, so every young artist has a real shot at a week in the studio.
- Full tuition covered for scholarship campers
- Awarded based on need
- Same camps, same gear, same catered food, same screening
- Scholarship applications open January 2027
Common questions.
When do 2027 applications open?
Applications for all four 2027 camps, plus need-based scholarships, open in January 2027. Check back here or email classes@austinfilmschool.org with questions.
How do scholarships work?
We offer 100% scholarship spots that cover full tuition. Scholarships are need-based, and scholarship campers get the exact same experience as every other camper.
Does my child need prior experience?
No experience required. Just curiosity. Camps are for beginner through intermediate levels, and our application process is about making sure your camper is excited to participate, not testing their skills.
My kid just finished 5th / 8th grade. Which camp?
Just finished 8th? Register for the High School session. They'll join 9th through 11th graders.
Just finished 5th? We recommend waiting until 6th grade. Our Middle School sessions are designed for students who have completed 6th grade.
Borderline ages? We're happy to help you pick the right fit. Email classes@austinfilmschool.org.
What does tuition include?
Every camp is $675, all-inclusive: all gear, software, and materials, catered food, a t-shirt and tote bag, and the end-of-week screening for families.
Can I pay in installments?
Yes! Every camp can be paid in 4 monthly installments: 25% due upfront, then 25% in each of the next 3 months. The plan is set up automatically at checkout, so there are no additional forms to fill out.
Where are camps located?
Our two production studios at the Canopy Art Complex, 916 Springdale Road in East Austin. You'll get studio details and check-in instructions in your welcome email before camp begins.
What does my camper need to bring?
Just a reusable water bottle and their imagination. Food is catered, and we provide all camp gear, software, materials, t-shirt, and tote bag.
Why an application process?
It's not about gatekeeping. It's about good fit. Camps are small (10 to 15 campers), and we want every kid who shows up to be genuinely excited to make something. The application is a way for you and your camper to reflect on the experience ahead and make sure it's the right week.
See you this summer.
Four camps. Two academies. 100% scholarships available. Mark your calendar for January 2027 and get ready to make something amazing. Questions? Email classes@austinfilmschool.org.