My name is Jill Somer, and I am the Director of the Skopelos Foundation for the Arts (SkopArt), a registered 501(c)(3) organization, as well as the co-founder of the Skopelos International Film Festival for Youth (SIFFY), which operates under SkopArt’s umbrella. I have lived in Skopelos, Greece, for 25 years and have always been passionate about making a difference in this community. Over the years, I have organized various initiatives, from children’s workshops to school mural projects, but SIFFY has had the greatest impact.

2026 will mark our fifteenth anniversary, and we are proud to have a growing waiting list of children and international filmmakers eager to participate. This festival fills me with hope, as it unites everyone around a single purpose: the children. It sustains many of us through these challenging times. As I shared during the festival, it is my dream to live the rest of the year as we do during that one magical week of SIFFY—a time when everyone is generous, loving, and supportive.

SIFFY will examine how values shape our identities, our communities, and our future. We will discuss ideas around family, freedom, justice, or love and how they manifest in daily life. We will show that values are not abstract ideals but living forces that guide action, spark conflict, and inspire change.

In a global moment defined by uncertainty and division, we hope to illuminate the enduring power of empathy, courage, and hope—the shared values that connect us beyond borders and languages.

We plan to host 130 children and 15 international filmmakers who will collaborate to create fifteen original films. Last year, we invited eight filmmaking students to assist the professional directors—an initiative that proved to be a valuable addition to the festival, providing the students with hands-on, practical training. Given the challenging economic situation in Skopelos, we are committed to ensuring that participation remains free of charge for all children involved.

The costs include renting a minimum of fifteen rooms for the filmmakers and students, as well as providing t-shirts for all participants. We also cover transportation and meal expenses throughout the duration of the festival.

The budget is as follows:

T-shirts $2,500

Housing $9,000

Meals $5,000

Boat Tickets $2,000

Website, film submissions: $500

Extras $1,000

Total: $20,000

Every dollar makes a difference, and it is tax-deductible in the US!