Youth Film Program Festival Event 2026: Encouraging the Future – Jill Keller, PhD and Stefan R. Sanford, MFA

Photo: The Youth Filmmakers on the Red Carpet at Harkins Theaters in Prescott Valley

Visiting the red-carpet premiere at the 2026 Youth Film Festival at Harkins Theatre in Prescott Valley was inspiring, thanks to the many talented young filmmakers from the Prescott Tri-City area.

Photo: Christine and Gulliver Parascandolo

The Youth Film Program was founded by husband-and-wife team Christine and Gulliver Parascandolo. The Parascandolas bring 28 years of independent filmmaking experience, including 3D and reality film production. After relocating from San Diego to Prescott four years ago, they launched the Youth Film Program to provide local students with hands-on filmmaking opportunities.

Since January 2026, 33 students ranging in age from 9 to 17 have been learning to write, film, edit, and act in original short films. Participants receive training in professional film equipment, green-screen technology, visual effects, and animation tools. Students began the program by pitching their film ideas, just as they would in a professional film environment.

On Tuesday, June 2, these young filmmakers walked down the red carpet to showcase their original films at Harkins Theatre in Prescott Valley. Family members, friends, and community leaders—including Prescott Valley Mayor Kell Palguta—attended the event to celebrate their achievements and support their creative efforts.

One young actress, Matilda Johnson, appeared in Synoptic. Matilda has been homeschooled and plans to attend Tri-City College Prep High School in the fall, where she hopes to continue both her academic studies and acting pursuits.

Another young actress, Everly Parascandolo, will enter third grade this fall at Acorn Montessori School in Prescott Valley. Everly appeared in three festival films: Reflections, Hoppers, and Checkmate.

Ten films were featured during the festival, spanning genres that included comedy, science fiction, adventure, and suspense. One of the films, Supernatural, delivered a family-friendly scare. Prescott residents will recognize several downtown locations featured in the productions, including the Hazeltine Theatre on Marina Street. All the films were age-appropriate, ranged from five to ten minutes in length, and represented a variety of creative themes.

The short film Checkmate was written by and starred Jacob Stefanic. Riley Voss created the imaginative animated film Playdoh, while Hoppers was edited by Amia Fox. Through these projects, students are gaining experience in every aspect of the filmmaking process and developing skills that may lead to future careers in the film industry.

The festival’s opening film, Backstage, was written, directed, and performed by Alora Parascandolo. The film demonstrated the excitement and challenges involved in launching a television show.

Photo: Silas Tran

Green-screen technology and special effects took center stage in The Catch, a science-fiction drama written by and starring Melanie Hale. According to cast member Silas Tran, the story follows a crew whose “spaceship is stranded and trying to get home.”

The Youth Film Festival showcased a remarkable group of young filmmakers whose passion, creativity, and dedication to the art of filmmaking were evident in every production. Since January 2026, these students have devoted countless hours to bringing their stories to life. Their accomplishments demonstrate both talent and perseverance, and we wish them continued success and many more opportunities to learn, create, and inspire others through film.