What is Reel Youth?

Reel Youth is a media empowerment project delivering community development programming for youth and adults across Canada and internationally. Through hands-on film production and distribution, we help participants tell stories that matter - building technical media skills, leadership, and confidence to collaborate, reflect, and connect to community resources. Our award-winning programs support young people as whole people, strengthening resilience alongside filmmaking so participants can overcome challenges, succeed, and inspire others. Guided by trained artist mentors, participants create from concept to completion in engaging, youth-centered media arts experiences. Programs culminate in local or virtual screenings that showcase participants’ films to family, peers, and community - amplifying their perspectives and creative vision. Founded in 2005, Reel Youth has 20+ years of experience delivering high-impact, mobile media programming for youth facing barriers related to identity, geography, culture, and/or socioeconomic conditions. We serve and uplift 2SLGBTQ+ youth, Indigenous youth reclaiming cultural narratives, youth in remote communities, newcomer youth, and others confronting socioeconomic barriers - strengthening justice, community, and freedom of self-expression through media arts. With 2,500+ films produced and 7,300+ participants reached across BC and beyond - including BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Vietnam, India, Morocco and Nepal - Reel Youth brings proven professional capacity and real community impact to every workshop. Interested in bringing Reel Youth to your community? Contact us.