The Festival
The FilmNOW Festival was founded in 2015 with a mission to guide young people to the art of filmmaking. FilmNOW offers local high school students from all over the region the chance to submit original short films to be juried by a panel of industry experts. With more than 500 submissions considered in its first six years, FilmNOW has succeeded in growing a diverse and talented community of filmmakers.
See the winning films
Our Sponsor
The Ambler Theater is a nonprofit, community-based movie theater that specializes in showcasing independent, art, and foreign films, as well as groundbreaking films with a local connection.
Expanding their local film programming, to include a spring short film festival (First Take Shorts Series) along with Montgomery County Community College’s, Five Day Film Festival screening. The Ambler is constantly seeking out area filmmakers to share their work with our engaged, film-loving audience.
Beginning in 2019, the FilmNOW Festival, was inherited by The Ambler Theater as a part of it’s local filmmaker programming.
“It’s been our privilege to host the Film Now awards screening and reception at our theater since its inception. With Germantown Academy entrusting the entire festival onto us, we’re hoping to continue the great growth and success that GA built with Film Now.”
- The Ambler Theater
Our History
Founded in 2015, FilmNOW originally took inspiration from the Media Arts program at Germantown Academy (GA) located in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. In its over 250 year history, Germantown Academy has educated students from Prekindergarten to Grade 12.
GA’s Upper School (Grades 9-12) is home to a vibrant and active media arts community that has produced a number of award-winning films and served as a springboard for many alumni who have gone on to rewarding and successful careers in the film and television industry.
Because of the strong foundation provided at Germantown Academy in the concepts and principles of good design, editing, sound and video production. Film Now became a platform for GA students to participate in an international high school film festival with peers from all over the world. Learn more about GA's Digital Media Curriculum.