Transforming Prevention Through Student-Led Storytelling

The Granite Youth Film Festival stands as a testament to what happens when we give youth the tools, platform, and trust to tell their own stories about the issues that matter most to our community. 

A Platform for Student Voices

The Granite Youth Film Festival is more than just a film screening, it's an annual celebration of student leadership and creativity. Organized by Granite United Way and the Granite Youth Alliance, this film festival brings together middle and high school students who collaborate to create short films addressing substance use, mental health, and other preventable health issues in their communities.

These aren't polished Hollywood productions. They're authentic, student-led projects that capture real peer experiences with vaping, alcohol, drugs, and mental health stigma. The films premiere at The Music Hall, in Portsmouth, NH drawing families, schools, and community partners together for an evening that celebrates their voices.

Building Tomorrow's Leaders Today

Through the filmmaking process, our youth gain hands-on experience in collaboration, storytelling, and technical skills. But perhaps more importantly, they develop confidence in their ability to address difficult topics and influence their peers.

This empowerment ripples outward, as these young filmmakers become advocates who continue speaking up long after the credits roll.

Changing the Conversation

The Granite Youth Film Festival serves a dual purpose: it's both a youth leadership experience and a public health education tool. By centering youth perspectives, the films reduce stigma around mental health and substance use, making these topics discussable rather than taboo.

The films model healthy, substance-free choices in ways that resonate authentically with young people. This peer-to-peer education proves especially powerful, as teens see reflections of their own experiences and realize they're not alone in facing these challenges.

Creating Lasting Impact

Our community as a whole benefits from more informed discussions and lower stigma around substance use and mental health. And the promotion of substance-free living leads to healthier choices throughout our schools and neighborhoods.

This comprehensive approach, empowering youth as both creators and educators, represents the future of prevention work. By trusting young people to identify problems and craft solutions, the Granite Youth Film Festival demonstrates what's possible when we give youth a seat at the table.

A Model Worth Celebrating

As the Granite Youth Film Festival continues its annual tradition, it proves that young people aren't just the leaders of tomorrow, they're leaders today, capable of creating change in their communities when given the opportunity.

It reminds us that the most powerful advocates for youth health and wellbeing are often young people themselves. Their films educate, their leadership inspires, and their voices matter. In giving them a platform, we're not just preventing substance use, we're investing in a generation of empowered, engaged citizens ready to tackle the challenges of their time.