FACETS

FACETS (Film, Art, and Creative Educational Training Services) is a nonprofit organization established in 1975 with a mission to create cinematic experiences for youth and adults that foster vital conversations and community action. Operating from Chicago’s historic art house cinema, FACETS has provided nationally recognized media education for over 40 years.

The 2026 Summer Film Camps are designed for youth ages 5-17, offering hands-on learning in filmmaking and storytelling. Camps are structured by age group: My First Film Camp (ages 5-7), Foundations of Film and Film Production (ages 8-12), and Advanced Film Studio and Animated Film Production (ages 13-17). All camps for ages 8-17 are now offered as comprehensive 2-week sessions, encouraging enrollment in multiple sessions for continued growth and unique experiences.

Led by professional filmmakers and skilled instructors, students develop foundational and advanced production skills including character development, cinematography, sound and music, editing, visual composition, and story structure. Campers learn to direct, act, write, and produce while exploring how films communicate meaning and purpose.

The program emphasizes both technical and artistic skills, critical thinking, and media literacy. Students create original stories ranging from imaginative and silly to personally meaningful narratives that speak to contemporary issues. With over 30 years of expertise, FACETS ensures high-quality, interactive instruction in a safe and supportive environment.

Camp outcomes include joining a creative community of like-minded peers, building confidence as storytellers and creators, developing 21st-century analytical skills, and sparking lifelong inspiration. FACETS camps encourage students to continue creating, experimenting, and expanding their worldview long after summer ends. The organization also offers family screenings, the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, theater rentals, and membership benefits including video rentals.