In May some local students saw their work hit the big screen at Harkins Theater in Prescott Valley. The occasion was the first Prescott Youth Film Festival, a red-carpet showcase featuring six short films created entirely by participants in the new Prescott Youth Film Program.
Gulliver and Christine Parascandolo started the program. The longtime filmmakers moved to Prescott after years working in commercial and narrative production. Rather than ease into a quiet local life, they decided to share their professional gear, experience and time with local young people with serious interest in storytelling.
“We ran it like a working studio,” Gulliver said. “The students pitched projects, formed crews, and took responsibility for everything.”
Held weekly at The Movement Studio in Prescott Valley, the program ran from January through May and served students aged nine to 17. Over five months the participants learned how to operate cameras, record and mix sound, block scenes, edit using DaVinci Resolve, and collaborate across creative roles.
The final slate included Galaxy Heroes (sf), Picture Day (comedy), Broach (mystery), Magical (fantasy trailer), Flying Through the Memories (drama), and The Janie & Maggie Cooking Show (satire). The program also produced a music video featuring an original student-written song recorded at Raven Sound, with choreography performed by students from The Movement Studio.
Students learned how to solve problems, adjust plans, take creative risks and work toward a shared deadline. Some who began with a focus on acting ended up behind the camera, and others found the courage to take their acting talents to the screen. Every project required flexibility, teamwork and compromise.
“The goal wasn’t to teach filmmaking as a hobby,” Gulliver said. “It was to show them what it actually feels like to take something from concept to screen.”
Four of the films were later selected to appear in the Prescott Film Festival’s summer student showcase. A second session is planned for early 2026, with the possibility of a summer offering.
I had the chance to screen the films myself, and found them both impressive and entertaining. For your chance to see these short films, keep an eye out. They are currently in submission to festivals and expected to be released later this year.
