SUN VALLEY JR FILM
Empowering
Tomorrow's brightest
Filmmakers.
ABOUT SVJR FILM
STORIES
START
SOMEHWERE.
SVJR Film exposes high school students to the power of storytelling by providing a breadth of exciting opportunities to develop and showcase their cinematic skills. Our programming inspires students to explore a future in filmmaking and opens up pathways to make it a viable career option through Festival exposure, networking opportunities and mentorships, and skill developing workshops.
SVJR Film is made possible by the generous financial support of the Steen Family Foundation, Greater Horizons Foundation and the Nordstrom Family
SVJR STUDENT FILMMAKING WORKSHOP
SVJR FILM COMPETITION
SVJR Returns at the 2026 Sun Valley Film Festival December 2-6, 2026
The Sun Valley JR Film Competition facilitates the discovery and support of the best high school filmmakers by highlighting student work in a film festival environment.
By providing the learning environment for these emerging voices in film to see filmmaking as a viable craft, they are inspired to pursue their dreams and tell their stories.Finalists in the SVJR Film Competition will have their films judged by industry professionals and have the experience of seeing their films screened in the world class Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum, Idaho and the historic Opera House in Sun Valley, Idaho.
“We are excited about our new December dates and we cannot wait to see what the super-talented teen filmmakers around the country submit to the SVJR! Our winner last year was a local Idaho filmmaker. We hope we can build on that and get more local films.”
– John Nordstrom, Program Director
ANNOUNCING THE SVJR FILM COMPETITION FINALISTS
To elevate emerging voices in film and support future filmmakers, each year SVFF and the Nordstrom Family produce the SVJR Film Competition. High school students from around the world submit their projects. The winner of the HOT SHOT Award will screen their film at this year’s Festival.
HERE ARE SVJR FINALISTS
A FAMILY AFFAIR – Directed by William Genat
FULL MUGS OF COFFEE – Directed by Sydney Wider
THE GOAT GAMES – Directed by Brendan Buist-Sohn
ILLUMINATION – Directed by Charlotte Anthony
LATE FOR A DATE – Directed by Dexter Shaffer & Jupiter Chapman
MY LIFE – Directed by Nelan Castillo
OCHRE – Directed by Reed Hodgkinson
PEACE OF MIND- Directed by Bluebelle Saraceno
PERIOD – Directed by Daphne Huffman
SATURDAY MORNING – Directed by Winslow King Burnett
SALVATION FOR INTIMACY – Directed by Laura Boo Kundova
Directing / Cinematography / Lighting / Sound / Continuity / Production
PAST WINNERS
succcess stories
2025 WINNER
COLIN INSLEY
featherCOVER
“Supporting the 1 Potato is an investment not only in the present but the future of filmmaking in Idaho because it’s localized as a specifically Idaho grant that requires the film to be shot in Idaho, ideally using Idaho crews. Anyone that works on a film that is funded by the 1 Potato will benefit directly from that investment because it exposes them to more professional filmmaking, and that can only benefit the larger Idaho film economy because anyone that works on a 1 Potato production will take little lessons and bits and pieces from that experience to their next thing and there will be a ripple effect out from there that will only make the films coming out of Idaho stronger and better and more interesting.”
2019 WINNER
SCOTT BURKHARDT
GIRLS ARE STRONG HERE
“The 1 Potato Award was the catalyst for me to make Girls Are Strong Here. The film went on to play a dozen festivals and won the Grand Jury Prize at IFF Boston and the 2022 Humanitas Prize for Best Short Film. I could not have done it without the support of the Sun Valley Film Festival and the amazing Idaho crew they connected me with"
2016 WINNER
EVA KONSTANTOPOULOS
RE/COLLECTION
“Winning the competition kicked the production of the script into high gear and gave us the resources and connections to the bring the film to life. We worked with an enthusiastic crew and the sweeping Boise landscape provided scenic locations and colorful characters for the project. At the Sun Valley Film Festival premiere, the programmers connected us to other passionate filmmakers and industry insiders and invited to the jam-packed days of panels and meet and greets. (Oh, and Sun Valley is just beautiful, GO!)
2016 WINNER
EVA KONSTANTOPOULOS
RE/COLLECTION
“Winning the competition kicked the production of the script into high gear and gave us the resources and connections to the bring the film to life. We worked with an enthusiastic crew and the sweeping Boise landscape provided scenic locations and colorful characters for the project. At the Sun Valley Film Festival premiere, the programmers connected us to other passionate filmmakers and industry insiders and invited to the jam-packed days of panels and meet and greets. (Oh, and Sun Valley is just beautiful, GO!)
Make It.
Show It.
Take It Further.
SVJR Film introduces high school students to the power of storytelling through hands-on education, mentorship and opportunities to develop and showcase their cinematic skills.
By combining practical filmmaking experience with festival exposure and access to industry professionals, the program gives emerging filmmakers a real pathway to explore where storytelling can take them.
PAST WINNERS
succcess stories
Ashley Jae Uhrig
2024 winter Screening Series Winner
“My film, BIG FUTURE, won the 2025 Winter Screening Series Hot Shot Award. My mom and I attended the festival and had the best time. There was a such a good line up of events and films. I got to meet so many industry professionals, who were all very kind and welcoming. All the festival directors/staff were amazing and took such good care of us. They introduced me to all kinds of people and I gained some great connections. I can't wait to come back!"
Julian Felix Aaronson
2024 Winner
“SVJR had a massive impact on my confidence as a filmmaker. I felt for the first time that my work had been integrated into a proper film festival! The festival flying us out and housing us was just all I could ask for. Being able to see all the high-level films was not only fun but also made me feel that I could participate at the feature film level as well. Just an absolutely wonderful experience."
Jiayang Liu
2020 winner
“I was accepted and committed to my dream program of film and tv production at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. I think the SVJFC definitely made my portfolio stronger and even impressed the admissions people.”
Justin Buss
2019 winner
“Not only does participation in film festivals greatly help students get into film programs in college, but there are plenty of other good reasons to do so! For students, having an event to travel to and attend is exciting, especially if they will get to see their film on the big screen. This was absolutely the case for the SVJFC! Any kind of award from a film festival, cash or trophy, looks incredibly good on a resume and it has allowed me to secure gigs in the past, and help me stand out as an applicant even to regular jobs! And it certainly helps out on a college application.”
PAST EVENTS
