Telling our story.
The Detroit Teen Truth Film Festival strives to empower youth voices to get a better understanding of what’s really important to young people in our region.
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Detroit Can Film Festival Submissions Link
Established in 2019, the Detroit Teen Truth Film Festival (formerly the Detroit Can Film Festival) is an opportunity for youth in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties to create 15 second films that share their truth and perspectives on the festival theme. Finalists are eligible to win cash prizes and scholarships. Each year, the theme is selected by festival founders working with focus groups of area young people to reflect important social issues in hopes of empowering youth to use their creativity to share their voices for understanding and change.
2026 Festival Theme: My Mental Health, Myself
After great discussions with local young people, we’ve determined that the 2026 festival theme is My Mental Health, Myself. Create your 30 second film on this theme and share your perspectives on how you manage stress, anxiety, emotions, pressure, and more. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
2026 Festival Information
Our 2026 Festival event will take place on Saturday April 25 at 2:00 pm at the Marlene Boll Theatre at the Boll Family YMCA.
Submissions will be accepted starting March 1 at 9:00 am through March 27, 2026 at 5:00 pm.
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Detroit Can Film Festival Submissions Link
Prized Awarded
- Grand Prize $750
- Runner Up $250
- Audience Prize $250
- More prizes may be awarded based on judges’ response to submissions
How to Submit a Film
Fill out the submission form and attach your film. Be sure to include contact details for a parent/guardian. If you have any challenges uploading or using the form, reach out to us at y-arts@ymcadetroit.org Make sure to get your submission in on time!
You can review all of the festival submission policies below.
How the Festival is Judged
A first round of judging will determine festival finalists, all of which will be screened at the festival event. Final judging will take place at the festival by a panel comprised of volunteers with backgrounds in media arts. The panel will select one grand prize winner and a runner up. The audience award will be decided by popular vote.
Volunteer at the Festival
If you’d like to be part of the 2026 Detroit Teen Film Festival, we’d love your support! We’re seeking volunteers for the event itself, as well as promotion/marketing. Reach out to using the contact form below or by email y-arts@ymcadetroit.org if you want to join in this great program.
Sponsor the Festival
We’re always seeking festival sponsors. If you would like to make a gift to the festival or if your company is interested in sponsoring, please reach out to us using the contact form below or email Margaret Edwartowski at medwartowski@ymcadetroit.org
Bring a Media Production Workshop to Your School
If your class or organization is interested in having our media teachers and volunteers come to your site and offer a free one-hour photo and video basics workshop that includes information on how to submit to the Detroit Teen Truth Film Festival, reach out to us! We’d love to offer some free instruction and make new connections in our community. Use the contact form below, email y-arts@ymcadetroit.org or call 313-223-2751.
Creative Teens, a Stronger Detroit
When teens create, they find their voice—and when their voices are heard, our city grows stronger. That’s why our Arts & Media Production programs matter—not only to the young people we serve, but to everyone who believes in Detroit’s creative future.
Supporting teen artists and media makers as a volunteer, sponsor or donor helps provide:
- Access to equipment, studios, and creative tools to bring their ideas to life.
- Mentorship from local artists and media professionals who guide and inspire.
- Opportunities to share their work through showcases, exhibitions, and community projects.
Every teen deserves the chance to express themselves and be seen.
At the Y, we’re helping them develop their craft, their confidence, and their future. Together, we can amplify the next generation of Detroit creators.
Contact Y Arts
Have questions about the Teen Truth Film Festival or want more details about partner and sponsorship opportunities? Contact us using the form below or email y-arts@ymcadetroit.org.
How To Submit a Film
Submissions are open March 1 at 9:00 am through March 27 at 5:00 pm.
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Detroit Can Film Festival Submissions Link
Submission Criteria/Contest Rules
Submissions must:
- Be between 15-30 seconds in length
- Address festival theme
- Can be produced using any available technology that can be shared digitally (phone, tablet, digital camera, etc.)
- Participating young people must live and/or attend school in Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb counties
- Be submitted during the festival submission period.
- Applicants must be between 13-18 years old (as long as participants are 13 by the festival date on 4/25, they are eligible)
- Participating young people must provide current, valid parent/guardian contact information on submission form or submission will be void.
- Applicants may enter as many videos as they like.
- There is no fee to apply.
AI and Stock Asset Usage Policy
Our Philosophy on AI Use for submissions
Your imagination comes first. AI is a tool to enhance or polish your film, not to create the story for you.
You may:
- Use AI to improve visuals, audio, or editing once your idea and story are your own.
- You must clearly list any AI tools you used and include what you asked them to do (for example: “Used Runway to remove background; prompt: ‘clear background, keep actor’”) in your film’s description when you fill out your festival entry form. Make sure you save the prompts you used and include those in your description.
You may not:
- Use AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) as an assistant to brainstorm your script or concept.
- Submit fully AI-generated scenes or films.
Bottom line: all the ideas and all the words need to be yours. The technology you choose to bring that to life needs to be listed and described to us how you used it.
Using Stock Assets in Submissions
- Stock imagery may not be used as a final product or make up the entirety of any frame in the video.
- Stock imagery (public usage rights only) may only be used to assist in creating portions of original artwork. Example: A stock image of a sky or other background may be added to your original artwork to complete the frame. Students are strongly encouraged to recreate stock imagery where possible.
If you have questions about the submission process or the festival itself, please contact Margaret Edwartowski at Y Arts Detroit at medwartowski@ymcadetroit.org or (313) 223-2743.