New Film Festival Focuses on Non-Profit Films

Austin, TX - Austin is full of filmmakers, screenplay writers and producers.

They work on blockbusters, indie films and animation, but there's a new genre of film that didn't get as much attention until now.

A festival this weekend exclusively shows non-profit and cause-drivin films -- the first film fest of its kind.

Amanda Rife is the youngest director this weekend.

She was just 14 years old when she made her film -- she's 15 now.

Her movie started as a letter to First Lady Michelle Obama, saying why the Ann Richards school is great and how there should be more just like it.

She turned it into a two-minute script and then turned it into a movie.

It's an animated film -- and she'd never done animation before.

She just figured it out as she went along and hopes it leads to construction of more schools with the Ann Richards model.

"I want people to, one, come visit our school and see what it's like because it's really a great school," said Rife. "And also to try to make more schools like it. I know there are some other all-girl schools in Texas, but there's not as many as there could be."

The "Lights, Camera, Help" film festival is at various locations.

Tickets for Friday are still available. They are $12 a day.