WIFT Member Pamela Kaval's youth-led short film The Psychic Arts Academy, produced through production company Wildaval Productions as part of the Waikato-based young filmmakers workshop programme, has been selected for the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (an Oscar-qualifying festival running for over 30 years). The film will screen in the Filmmakers of Tomorrow Youth Showcase on April 26.
The project was created collaboratively with young filmmakers through one of the Waikato-based workshops, where participants help develop and produce an original film.
It premiered locally at the Misty Flicks Film Festival (2025) before entering the international festival circuit.
One of the young creatives, 13-year-old Kayla Cache, helped direct and act in the film and has been acknowledged for her contribution as an emerging youth filmmaker.
The film has also screened at the BAMkids Children’s Film Festival (running for nearly three decades) and the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival (running for over two decades), where it has received a distribution opportunity through the KIDS FIRST! network.
Congrats to all these filmmakers of tomorrow!