The 2025 Summer Documentary Institute Has Officially Begun!

CreaTV San José is proud to kick off another year of the Summer Documentary Institute (SDI); a transformative, five-week program where San José youth become filmmakers, storytellers, and changemakers. 

This summer, a new cohort of eight students and two college interns have joined SDI 2025 to explore the power of documentary film. Over the coming weeks, these young media makers will dive deep into every aspect of production whether that from story development and interviewing to shooting, editing, and post-production. Through hands-on training and mentorship, participants will work in teams to create original documentaries that reflect the voices, issues, and identities of our local community. 

Offered at no cost to participants, SDI is more than a film program. It’s a workforce development experience focused on digital media, technology, and leadership. Designed for underrepresented youth in San José, the program encourages self-expression and community engagement through the lens of storytelling. 

Each week brings new challenges and growth as students gain technical skills, collaborate creatively, and explore topics they’re passionate about. The program will end in a screening on August 2nd, where the community will be invited to view the completed films and celebrate the voices of our next generation. 

The Summer Documentary Institute is a partnership between CreaTV San José and San José Works, with generous support from SVCREATES and The Davidson Family Foundation. 

Stay tuned for updates as the 2025 cohort begins their filmmaking journey, we can’t wait to see what stories they choose to tell!