Youth Media

Rochester Teen Film Festival at The Little Theatre • August 7

Join us as we honor the work of urban, suburban, and rural teen filmmakers and give young people an authentic opportunity to participate in a real film festival.

Film screening, awards ceremony, and reception
August 7. Doors open at 5 p.m. Screening begins at 5:30 p.m.
The Little Theatre at 240 East Avenue, Rochester, NY.
Theatre 1
The event is FREE and open to the public

More than 50 films were submitted to this annual teen film festival. All submissions were judged by a jury and the finalists will have their films shown at this special event. Filmmakers selected as part of this year’s festival will also have a chance to earn one of the four special awards: The Philip Seymour Hoffman Best of Festival Award, The Jack Garner Award for Best Director, Alex Ketchek Award for Best Animated Film, and The Marilyn O’Connor Award for Social Justice.

Learn more:

NPR’s College Podcast Challenge

The NPR College Podcast Challenge is back with a $5,000 cash prize. And the opportunity to have your voice, your story, reach the NPR audience and beyond. The annual NPR College Podcast Challenge will accept entries by January 16, 2026 (Professor and school involvement is not required for the college challenge).

So, if you have a passion project or a story you want to get off your chest, here’s your chance to make it happen. Whether you’re a seasoned student journalist working on a thesis project, or a math or science major recording your first podcast in your dorm room — NPR wants to hear from you.

For the first time ever this year, the contest is accepting under12 minutes. So college students – here’s your chance to win $5,000 and have your story heard on NPR.

Submit Your Work

Getting started? Check out these resources:

• Contest website

• Official rules

• Submission guidelines

• Student podcasting guide

• Submit your work here!

Listen to past winning entries

• NPR 2023 10 Best Finalists of the College Podcast Challenge

• College Student in her 60’s shares wisdom when it comes to reinventing oneself in her 2023 podcast entry.

• 2023 Grand Winner of NPR College Podcast Challenge: College student explores rare mental health condition in award-winning podcast

Learn more at the NPR College Podcast Challenge 2024 Announcement!

NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge

The annual Student Podcast Challenge is will be accepting entries for middle school – high school contest is open for podcast submissions for 2026. The national judges will choose winners in three categories: grade four, grades five through eight, and grades nine through 12.

American Revolution: 250th Anniversary Category:

To mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, send us podcasts that explore what the phrase, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” means to you. For this special challenge, our judges will be listening for stories that look back at historical events, take us to historic places, or that explore what it means to be an American. Stories of innovation, of rights and protest, arts and culture, civic engagement and governance, or personal narratives or beliefs. This is a new additional prize category.

Eligible: GRADES 4-12
(Teacher involvement is required.)
Deadline for submissions is May 31, 2026.

As in the past, entries must be submitted by a teacher, educator, or mentor who is 18 years or older. And don’t forget all the tips, advice and lesson plans we’ve compiled over the years – more on that below. Especially the rules around the maximum length of eight minutes, and about the use of music. After years of listening to student podcasts, we’ve learned that shorter is better. 2026 Advice: What You Really Need to Make A Podcast

Adults Submit Entries Here