The International Youth Film Festival is an inclusive online platform for young filmmakers and screenwriters to showcase their work.

Hello, my name is Jack Wagreich. I am the founder of the International Youth Film Festival. I am a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania.

For as long as I can remember, stories have been my escape – allowing my imagination and ideas to evolve. While novels have enriched me, film has enabled me to become fully immersed within fictional worlds and celluloid legends coming to life on the silver screen.

Growing up, my parents did not allow video games in the house; however, they gave me more latitude by allowing me to watch mature films at a younger age. This further broadened my perspective on film, which in turn, has provided me with the inspiration to establish the International Youth Film Festival.

Now in our second year, the IYFF has opened my eyes to the ways that the support of the arts can impact our world socially and politically. This is a direct reflection of how my generation relies upon and utilizes media as a medium by which to have their voice heard. We are the smartphone generation – with greater accessibility to the previously hard-to-reach genre of film. We’re using that accessibility, all over the world, with incredible results. The IYFF’s goal is to showcase that.