Film Education

  • School & Weekend Workshops

    Guide participants ages 8+ through all phases of film production, from pitch to premiere, both in front of and behind the camera, in schools, after-school programs, and community centers.

  • Media Production Lab

    Provide free training for NYC residents ages 16-28 so they can obtain the skills, connections, and experience they need for future media production careers

  • Career Development

    We provide workshops and training for our Instructors and AFFStudio staff as well as for the general public, to support emerging filmmakers.

AFF Instructors

  • Nina Fiore EdM

    Founding Director

    Harvard University

  • Kelly Villares

    Program Director/ Lead Instructor

    Hunter College ‘25

  • Kevin Gaddi

    Lead Instructor

    Baruch College ‘22

  • Jeremy Cascamisi

    Lead Instructor

    Hunter College ‘26

  • Andres Bornacelli

    Lead Instructor

    FIT ‘21

  • Becky Chen

    Asst Instructor

    UT Austin ‘22

  • Anne Fernandez

    Asst Instructor

    Syracuse ‘22

  • Raymond Heinichen

    Asst Instructor

    Brooklyn College ‘26

  • Clark Bunao

    Asst Instructor

    Lincoln Tech

  • Wilson Huang

    Asst Instructor

    NYC College of Technology ‘23

  • Nikhil Oza

    Asst Instructor

    Brooklyn College ‘24

  • Jessica Ng

    Asst Instructor

    Hofstra ‘24

  • Juliana Giraldo

    HS of Art & Design

Testimonials

  • The Astoria Film Festival has these incredible educational programs for young people and many of them go on to work at AFF and/or be further involved with filmmaking. I appreciate all of their hard work in giving these kids the opportunity to learn new skills, get behind and in front of the camera, and see what they can create! It’s just magical

    Elizabeth O’Connor, Parent

  • Seeing my daughter on Festival Day, in that big Director chair, speaking with such ease about the challenges of filmmaking, at age 8, had me close to tears. I’m so glad she’s exploring all sorts of opportunities to see what might interest her in the future and I’m so grateful that AFF brings these opportunities to our young people in such a nurturing, and without boundaries, way.

    Jo-Ann Grande Pjevac, Parent

  • Astoria Film Festival has fun and informative camps for children at all levels of film experience. They are great with kids - giving them creative license, while still educating them on all aspects of film production. I recommend them for any child with an interest in film as a career or hobby! Also, Nina helped my son greatly with his audition for a film HS program, and I am happy to say that he got into the program!

    Shubra Breivogel, Parent

AFFMedia Production Lab

The AFF Media Production Lab is a Workforce Development program that aims to empower historically-ignored youth between the ages of 16 and 28 throughout NYC, providing them with essential skills, hands-on experience, and valuable connections to pursue industry careers in film/tv/digital media production.

The AFFMedia Production Lab offers 3 months of free Master Classes, Lectures, Workshops, and Filmmaking Experiences.

Lab Fellows create their own group film during the Lab as well, which is then Premiered at our Youth Festival.

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Contact us.

astoriafilmfestival@gmail.com

Astoria NY 11106