This summer, kids who love music and movies have some interesting options other than their iPod or the mall. Thanks to two events based here in Orlando, young composers and filmmakers will be able to get their hands dirty and potentially have their work seen by some very large audiences. All it takes is a little (or a lot) of creativity.

The Young Composers Challenge, sponsored by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, asks kids 13-18 years old to write an original score for full orchestra or for a chamber ensemble. Six winners will have their compositions performed by the Orlando Philharmonic on Sunday, September 28 before a live audience in addition to taking home a cash prize for themselves and their music teacher. Submissions are due by August 1st and complete information is available at the Young Composers Challenge website.

Kidfest, a young filmmaker’s summer camp sponsored by the Enzian Film Society, puts kids in a week-long course dedicated to the art of film-making. Students will study cinematic techniques and dive into the production of an independent film that will be premiered on the big screen at Enzian Theater. The camp is open to kids entering 5-8 grades and costs $175 ($125 for Enzian Film Society members) for the six days of activities. Complete information is available at the Enzian website.

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