About

The Yale Student Film Festival (YSFF) is an emerging student-run short film festival, providing the opportunity for university-level filmmakers, both foreign and domestic, to exhibit their work.

YSFF takes place annually at Yale University in New Haven, CT. The four-day long event will feature selected student films, spotlight screenings, workshops, and panels led by Yale alumni in the entertainment industry, culminating in an awards ceremony celebrating young filmmakers.

Founded in 2015, the festival began as a collaboration between the Yale Film Alliance, Yale Film Study Center, Yale Film and Media Studies Program, Films at the Whitney, and the Yale College Dean’s Office to highlight the small, but growing community of filmmakers on Yale’s campus, who create work outside of a traditional film school environment.

The festival celebrates emerging student work from those taking the first steps towards a professional career, and aims to provide a platform to encourage conversation and camaraderie across schools and experiences. In the liberal arts tradition, we aim to bridge film with relevant social and intellectual issues.

The festival features three separate student competitions: the narrative film competition, the documentary film competition, and the experimental film competition. It will also feature a works-in-progress category, designed to showcase work in various post-production phases, and will be an opportunity to receive feedback from peers and professionals. The Yale Filmmakers Block and the Yale Thesis Films Block bookend the student screening and showcase work by our very own students. Filmmakers can submit their work on the YSFF Film Freeway page.

Inquiries?

theyalestudentfilmfestival@gmail.com

Contact

	Festival Co-Director Thomasin Schmults, Davenport ’26
	Festival Co-Director Abby Asmuth, Jonathan Edwards ’26
	Director of Programming Robert Gao, Benjamin Franklin ’27
	Treasurer Annabelle Hee, Morse ’26
	Treasurer Rachel Lherrison, Jonathan Edwards ’26
	Events Coordinator Emma Fusco, Jonathan Edwards ’26
	Events Coordinator Elora Sparnicht, Silliman ’27
	Publicity Chair Victoria Mnatsakanyan, Timothy Dwight  ’27
	Publicity Chair Reese Weiden, Branford ’27
	Outreach Coordinator Florence Barillas, Branford ’27
	Student Filmmaker Liaison Linden Skalak, Branford ’26
	Student Filmmaker Liaison Will McDonald, Branford ’26
	Sponsorship Liaison Adam Calabresi, Saybrook ’26
	Graphic Designer Melany Perez, Berkeley ’26
	Advisor & Director Emeritus Eli Berliner, Benjamin Franklin ’26