ABOUT US
Reel Youth is a media empowerment project delivering community development programming for youth and adults across Canada and internationally. Through hands-on film production and distribution, we help participants tell stories that matter—building technical media skills, leadership, and confidence to collaborate, reflect, and connect to community resources.
Our award-winning programs support marginalized young people as whole people, strengthening resilience alongside filmmaking so participants can overcome challenges, succeed, and inspire others. Guided by trained artist mentors, participants create from concept to completion in engaging, youth-centered media arts experiences. Programs culminate in local or virtual screenings that showcase participants’ films to family, peers, and community—amplifying their perspectives and creative vision.
Founded in 2005, Reel Youth has 20+ years of experience delivering high-impact, mobile media programming for underserved youth facing barriers related to identity, geography, culture, and/or socioeconomic conditions. We serve and uplift 2SLGBTQ+ youth, Indigenous youth reclaiming cultural narratives, youth in remote communities, newcomer youth, and others confronting socioeconomic barriers—strengthening justice, community, and freedom of self-expression through media arts.
With 2,500+ films produced and 7,300+ participants reached across BC and beyond—including BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Vietnam, India, Morocco, USA, and Nepal—Reel Youth brings proven professional capacity and real community impact to every workshop. If you’re interested in having Reel Youth visit your community, contact us.
email: info@reelyouth.ca
Director
Erica Køhn
Program Facilitators and Editors
Erica Køhn
Stevie Nande
Tate Juniper
Mark Vonesch
Vitoria Martins
Artwork
Jordan Bent
Offices
Vancouver
Cortes Island, BC
Yellowknife
Toronto
| Programs| International | Advisory Board |
© 2026 Reel Youth - All Rights Reserved
Artwork by Jordan Bent
Reel Youth is a project on MakeWay's shared platform, which provides operational supports, governance, and charitable expertise for changemakers. The shared platform enables more time and money to go towards achieving greater impact. MakeWay is a national charity that builds partnerships and solutions to help nature and communities thrive together.
