MODG senior Isabella Stento is helping to organize a film festival in Atlanta for teenagers. Here are her answers to some questions so you can learn more about this contest and possibly participate.

1) Can you tell us a little bit about what the film festival is?

Smells Like Teen Film Fest is a young adult film festival. Creative filmmakers, ages 21 and under, are encouraged to submit their own original film(s) of any genre. The festival will take place on June 6th, 2015 at 6 p.m. in the Rich Theatre at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Entries will be accepted from all over the globe.

2) Is this the first time it’s happened?

This is the first year for the program! We hoping we will be able to do it in the near future too! 🙂

3) Are there any kinds of limitations on what submitted films can be about? Specific categories?

The films submitted have to be have to be original work of the person submitting. ( The ideas, or story lines must not be copyrighted.) Films must be under 15 minutes. Anyone under 21 can submit, and the films should be produced without the help of adults, though adults can be used as actors.

So pretty much, any ideas you come up with that can be made into a film that is your original idea, is accepted! So have fun and be creative! 🙂

3) How/when did you become involved?

I actually had to be interviewed the day after Christmas last year to be considered for the program. I was really excited for this because film and acting is something I am really passionate about, so I thought this would be a great opportunity for me!  The Film Festival is completely run and programmed by me and five other teens. We meet every other Saturday, or sometimes every Saturday at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.

We plan out every thing needed to run and organize this program. It is fun to be surrounded by other kids who love film as much as you do! We also came up with the name for the festival, “Smells Like Teen Film Fest” from the band Nirvana’s song, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” haha.  The squad and I made a promo video with a bunch of references from movies in it, so if you watch it, try to see what movies you can pick out! We also are in the process of making our own film for the festival. Since Georgia is becoming a huge place where movies are being filmed, the Film Festival is an awesome way for teens to be a part of the movie industry too!

If anyone lives in the Atlanta area, you can come attend the film festival! The Festival will take place on June 6th, 2015 at 6 P.M. in the Rich Theartre at the Woodruff Arts Center. So if you are in the area, drop in to see some awesome films being screened, and I’d love to meet more MODGers!

4) Any tips for teens wanting to create a short film but don’t know where to start?

Any original ideas you have, or something you have always wanted to make a movie of. The film can be a stop motion, documentary, action film, drama, horror, comedy, or any thing you want! The submitted films will be reviewed by us, and the staff, just to make sure it is fitting for the Teen Film Festival. So be creative, and get working on it! 🙂

For more info and to submit you film(s), here is the link to the website: http://artsvibe.com/smellsliketeenfilmfest/

And the link to the promo video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjamkPuyYQI