Eric Swinderman, the Emmy-nominated President of Anhedonia Pictures, has announced that his summer camp at Young Filmmakers Academy in Cleveland, OH will be free for all participants for the first time.
In an effort to create a more equitable environment and remove socioeconomic barriers, Swinderman has eliminated tuition for all students. The program, which prioritizes diversity, now includes 34% minority student enrollment. Additionally, 55% of this year’s camp participants identify as female making it the most diverse YFA class yet.
The free advanced summer program, which runs July 8 through August 23, gives young storytellers the chance to gain real life experience in the film industry while working with seasoned professionals and state-of-the art equipment. Whether they’re interested in acting, writing, directing, filming, or producing, this camp provides students the opportunity to work on making a real movie while teaching them leadership, teamwork, and responsibility.
As an independent artist, Swinderman knows how hard it is to get a foot in the door and he wants to pay it forward to the next generation of filmmakers. He states: “Early in my career, I met Shaker Heights native and successful filmmaker David Wain who was willing to connect me to the right people, which really helped to launch my career. It was that boost that got my foot in the door, and I want to make sure young people have the same chance to make it in this industry and share their stories. Also, Cleveland is an extremely diverse city and I want Young Filmmakers Academy to reflect that.”
The summer camp culminates in August with the completion of the kids’ film and a local red carpet premiere at the Sari Feldman Auditorium located in Parma. There will also be a screening November 10th at 2 p.m. at Lakewood Public Library. Both will be open to the public.
Here’s More: Eric Swinderman is an Emmy-nominated director, writer, producer, and the founder of both Anhedonia Pictures and Young Filmmakers Academy. His critically acclaimed films include 2013’s “Made in Cleveland” starring Busy Philipps and Gillian Jacobs, as well as “The Enormity of Life” starring Breckin Meyer (Clueless), Emily Kinney (The Walking Dead), and Giselle Eisenberg (The Wolf of Wall Street), which released in 2021. He is a graduate of Cleveland State University and New Philadelphia High School, and currently resides in Cleveland with his wife and their two daughters.
