Summer Documentary Institute Application Open

Summer is quickly approaching, and that means the Appalachian Media Institute’s annual Summer Documentary Institute is almost here! Applications are now open for Appalachian youth!

Since it was founded in 1988, the Appalachian Media Institute (AMI) has worked to help youth of Central Appalachia explore and capture stories of their local communities through the creation of art and multimedia. Our flagship program, the Summer Documentary Institute (SDI), allows youth aged 14 to 22 to partake in an 8-week media training program (and get paid to do so!). No prior experience is required, as our program is designed to teach from the ground up. Interns will spend the summer viewing and discussing documentary media, participating in a broad range of technical and artistic workshops, and producing meaningful pieces of media about community issues and traditions. 

“Cameras have told a lot of stories about our region, some true and some the furthest thing from it. The Appalachian Media Institute's summer documentary program is all about letting young folks from around here use cameras to tell their own stories, the stories that often go untold.”

— Tate Greene, 2022 Summer Documentary Institute intern

We are grateful to be returning to our traditional programming this summer as a result of successful recovery efforts following the devastating flooding of Eastern Kentucky in July 2022. This has been made possible by generous assistance from our funders and supporters, like you! 

Youth interns accepted into the 2024 SDI program will get the opportunity to work closely with both AMI’s staff and the staff of Appalshop’s Film Department, as well as regional artists and community members who will lead workshops with us. 

The program will be hosted in Appalshop’s new temporary office space in Jenkins, Kentucky, from June 10 to August 1 and meet weekly on Monday through Thursday. For additional information about this summer’s program, see the application hosted on AMI’s website or email AMI staff at [email protected] for further questions.

“The Appalachian Media Institute’s summer program provides the perfect environment for young filmmakers to flourish. A summer spent with AMI is a summer well spent.”

– Kaleigh Adams, 2021-23 Summer Documentary Institute intern

We’re ready to teach, we just need some interns! If you or someone you know aged 14 to 22 wants to spend the summer getting paid to learn media production skills, apply today! Applications are due April 26!

Film Department in the News

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KET: Coming to YouTube and other streaming platforms near you: The film archives of Appalshop