Urban Exposure Independent Summer Film Program 2026
 

Attention, Young Creatives of the Quad Cities! This program is designed to empower and inspire young filmmakers like you. Gain hands-on training and mentorship and explore important aspects of the creative process, from pre-production to post-production. 

 

The program will run July 6th through August 28th, 2026, meeting Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1:00–3:00 p.m. at STEAM on Wheels in Rock Island.

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Supported by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, Urban Exposure provides participants with professional, hands-on instruction in every stage of the filmmaking process, including screenwriting, directing, cinematography, lighting, sound, production, and editing. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore 360-degree filmmaking while building a strong foundation in traditional filmmaking techniques.

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Created by Jonathan Burnett, a Rock Island native, professional filmmaker, and tenure-track professor of Film Production at Los Angeles Valley College, the program was founded on the belief that every young person has a story worth telling.

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Urban Exposure has spent a decade helping Quad Cities youth discover their creative voices while developing confidence, teamwork, leadership, and technical skills through the art of filmmaking.

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Throughout the program, participants work together as a professional film crew to develop an original screenplay before producing, directing, filming, and editing a collaborative short film. Their completed film will premiere at the Rock Island Public Library and will also be screened during the Pulling Focus African American Film Festival, giving students the opportunity to share their work with family, friends, and the community.

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"Urban Exposure is about much more than making movies," said Jonathan Burnett. "It's about helping young people discover their creative voice, work together toward a common goal, and realize that their stories have value. Every year we watch students grow—not only as filmmakers, but as confident young leaders."

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Youth ages 16–22 - Register Below