All American High School Film Festival

What All American High School Film Festival does

All American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF) is a privately held, founder-led organization that has operated the world's largest high school film festival annually in New York City since 2013, holding its screenings at AMC Empire 25 Theaters in Times Square and its Teen Indie Awards Show at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn. The company processes film submissions through the third-party FilmFreeway platform and distributes its ancillary products (curriculum, merchandise, competition registrations, festival tickets) through a direct e-commerce storefront at hsfilmfest.com. Its underlying technology stack is modest and primarily off-the-shelf: a Squarespace-powered website, FilmFreeway for submission management, and standard e-commerce rails — there is no disclosed proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or custom platform.

AAHSFF monetizes through five distinct revenue streams: tiered film submission fees ($0 free, $20 regular, $45 late, $65 final), team-based Film Invitational registrations ($200-$500 per team across Spring, Winter, and NYC competitions), VPRC curriculum sales for educators ($14.99 individual lessons, $149.99-$299.99 for complete year packages), official merchandise (t-shirts $24.99, hoodies $49.99, tote bags $14.99), and festival ticket sales. The organization also derives material value from a 30+ partner sponsorship coalition spanning premier-tier hardware brands (Apple/Final Cut Pro, Sony, Canon, Blackmagic Design, IMAX, Panasonic LUMIX, Hollyland), film schools (FSU, SCAD, Chapman, SMU, Hofstra, Temple, Walnut Hill, NYFA, Point Park, Quinnipiac), and destination marketing (NYC Tourism), which collectively fund over $600,000 in annual prizes and scholarships.

The company serves multiple customer segments: high school filmmakers (the primary persona), middle school students in a dedicated category, educators purchasing the VPRC curriculum, schools and film programs fielding teams for invitationals, and community organizations running after-school film programs. Co-Founder and Executive Director Tom Oliva leads a small operating team, and the business is positioned as an event-driven platform anchored by an annual festival with year-round monetization extensions through curriculum, competitions, and summer film camps (Film Forward, Providence High School Film Camp).

Name

All American High School Film Festival

Legal name

All American High School Film Festival

Website

https://hsfilmfest.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

All American High School Film Festival operates the world's largest high school film festival annually in New York City, serving student filmmakers, middle schoolers, educators, and schools with submission-based competitions, year-round Film Invitationals, summer camps, and a video production curriculum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival and Youth Arts Education

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Educational Services (611), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s & Youth Educational Entertainment (Edutainment) (EDAGALAK), Community & Cultural Screenings (Museums, Cultural Centers) (MPADAKAH), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI), Family, Kids & Education Fairs (MPAGAFAH)

Keywords

• Student film festival
• Filmmaker competitions
• Youth film education
• Film submission platform
• Video production curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

West New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Film Submission Fees: Entry fees for film submissions with tiered pricing based on submission timing. Free deadline, Regular ($20), Late ($45), Final ($65).
2. Film Invitational Registrations: Team-based competition fees for NYC Film Invitational ($250 for ≤5 members, $500 for ≥6 members) and Spring Film Invitational ($200 per team).
3. Merchandise Sales: Official merchandise including t-shirts ($24.99), hoodies ($49.99), tote bags ($14.99).
4. VPRC Curriculum Sales: Video Production Resource Community curriculum sold as complete year packages (Year 1: $299.99 for 30 lessons, Years 2-3: $149.99 each for 12 lessons) and individual lesson plans ($14.99 each).
5. Festival Tickets: Ticket sales for festival events including All-Access Pass and Elite All-Access Pass for the annual October festival weekend in NYC.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The All American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF) operates the world's largest high school film festival, held annually each October in New York City at AMC Empire 25 Theaters in Times Square. The organization processes film submissions through the FilmFreeway platform, runs on-site and remote Film Invitational competitions (NYC, Spring, Winter), hosts summer film camps (Film Forward and Providence High School Film Camp), sells the VPRC video production curriculum for educators, and distributes official merchandise. Over $600,000 in prizes and scholarships are awarded annually at the Teen Indie Awards Show.

Product overview

The All American High School Film Festival operates as a multi-faceted platform combining a premier film festival competition with educational programs and digital content. The core offering is the annual AAHSFF festival, which serves as the world's largest high school film festival featuring screenings at AMC Empire 25 Theaters in NYC. This core is complemented by the NYC Film Invitational and Spring Film Invitational competitive programs, Film Forward and Providence High School Film Camp educational camps, and the VPRC (Video Production Resource Community) curriculum system comprising Year 1, 2, and 3 complete curricula plus individual lesson plans. The platform also offers official merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags), festival registration services, and the Teen Indie Awards Show as its flagship awards ceremony.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NYC Film Invitational: On-site student filmmaking competition held in New York City as part of the festival experience
• Spring Film Invitational
• Winter Film Invitational
• VPRC (Video Production Resource Community)
• Teen Indie Awards
• Best of Fest
• Film Forward
• Providence High School Film Camp

Products and services

• All American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF) The world's largest high school film festival, held annually each October in New York City at AMC Empire 25 Theaters in Times Square, featuring official selection film screenings, the Teen Indie Awards Show at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, workshops, a college fair with partnering film schools, and over $600,000 in prizes and scholarships awarded. Targeted at high school filmmakers worldwide.
• NYC Film Invitational

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $600,000 in prizes and scholarships awarded annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered premier, major and supporting.

• Apple (Final Cut Pro)premierTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Premier partner providing Final Cut Pro X editing software as prizes for award winners. Apple provides software licensing for the festival's prize program.
• AdoramapremierTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Premier partner offering educational discounts and prizes including lighting kits. Adorama provides equipment prizes and discounts for festival participants.
• HollylandpremierTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Premier partner providing video transmission equipment (Pyro S, Pyro H, Lark M2S) as prizes for various award categories.
• SMU Meadows School of the ArtspremierStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Premier partner and participating college in College Corner, offering film and media arts education programs.
• IMAXpremierTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Premier partner providing advanced film technology experience and prizes for festival participants.
• CanonpremierTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Premier partner providing camera equipment (Canon R8 RF 24-50 Lens) as prizes for Best Direction award.
• Huntington UniversitypremierStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Premier partner providing $136,000 academic scholarship for Best Documentary and $1,000 summer camp scholarship for Audience Award. Ranked #2 nationally by Broadcast Education Association.
• Temple University (TFM)premierStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Premier partner and participating college with Film and Media Arts program, offering bachelor and master degrees.
• Chapman University Dodge CollegepremierStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Premier partner offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in film and media arts through College Corner participation.
• SonypremierTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Premier partner providing Sony A7C Camera Package for Best Cinematography award.
• Florida State University (FSU) Film SchoolpremierStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Premier partner, ranked #13 by The Hollywood Reporter, offering comprehensive film education. FSU provides scholarships and participates in College Corner.
• SCADpremierStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Premier partner and top film school (Hollywood Reporter Top 25) providing full scholarship for Emerging Talent Award summer camp.
• Walnut Hill School for the ArtspremierStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Premier partner offering arts education with focus on writing, film and media arts.
• Blackmagic DesignpremierTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Premier partner providing PYXIS 6K cameras, DaVinci Resolve keyboards, and editing software as prizes for Best Overall, Film Invitational, and Best Editing awards.
• Hofstra UniversitypremierStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Premier partner recognized by Variety as top school for media professionals, offering film studies and production programs.
• SMPTEpremierTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Premier partner and industry standards organization for motion pictures and television engineers.
• Panasonic LUMIXpremierTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Premier partner providing LUMIX S9 N Kit for Best Influencer award.
• TiltamajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Major partner providing Nano II Control Handle Kit for Best International Film award.
• StoryblocksmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Major partner providing 1-year unlimited subscription for Best International Film and presenting the 'Representation Through Storytelling' category with $1,000 prize.
• ShuremajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Major partner providing MoveMic Two Receiver Kit for Best Overall award winner.
• Lensrentals.commajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Major partner providing $2,000 rental credit for Best Overall award.
• WriterDuetmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Major partner providing 1-year WriterDuet Pro license as prize for all award category winners.
• SideFX HoudinimajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Major partner providing Houdini procedural 3D software and Dell laptop for Best Editing award.
• Point Park UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Major partner offering film and animation degrees, participating in College Corner.
• NYC TourismmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Major partner promoting the festival destination and New York City as the festival venue.
• Student Television Network (STN)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Supporting partner offering FREE annual membership for Best Broadcast Journalism Feature Story winner's school.
• New York Film Academy (NYFA)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Supporting partner providing $60,000 scholarship for Best Drama and Emerging Talent Award full camp scholarship.
• Prodigy CampsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Supporting partner providing full 1-week scholarship for Best Screenplay winner.
• Quinnipiac UniversitypremierStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Premier partner providing $112,000 academic scholarship for Best Overall award winner.
• Final DraftsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Supporting partner providing Final Draft 13 screenwriting software as prizes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs: Education program connecting middle and high school students with journalism and video production, overlapping AAHSFF's educator-segment and broadcast-journalism-category submissions.
• Sundance Institute Ignite: Sundance's youth-focused filmmaking initiative for ages 14-19 offering labs and showcase opportunities; competes for prestige in the student filmmaker category and overlaps on film-school positioning.

Direct peers

• YoungArts (National YoungArts Foundation): National organization identifying and supporting young artists including cinematic arts, offering awards, mentorship, and scholarships comparable to AAHSFF's recognition and scholarship model.
• Student Television Network (STN): National convention and competition organization for K-12 broadcast and video programs; an actual AAHSFF supporting partner but also a competing venue for student-filmmaker attention and school budgets.
• Campus MovieFest: Student film competition running on college and high school campuses with a national festival finale, overlapping AAHSFF on target customer, competition format, and education-channel distribution.
• National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY): Leading U.S. youth film festival for filmmakers under 24, directly competing with AAHSFF for the same student-filmmaker segment, prizes, and film-school partner mindshare.
• International Student Film Festival Hollywood: Annual international student film competition based in Los Angeles covering high school and college categories, directly comparable in format, prizes, and submission-based revenue model.
• Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: Long-running national student recognition program with a film/video category, scholarships, and partner institutions, directly competing for the same high school creative-recognition audience as AAHSFF.

Others

• Adorama Business Solutions / B&H Education: Major film equipment retailer and AAHSFF premier partner serving the same student filmmaker and educator segment through gear discounts and curriculum-adjacent content, an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Adobe Education / Adobe Creative Cloud for Education: Major incumbent providing creative software tools and student programs to the same K-12 and higher-ed video-production audience that AAHSFF's VPRC curriculum addresses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/Aba1YgYhQ3g1QAVZ
• Instagraminstagram.com/channel/Aba1YgYhQ3g1QAVZ
• Facebookfacebook.com/hsfilmfest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hsfilmfest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about All American High School Film Festival