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A group of teenagers who lost their home in the Pallisard and Eton fires spent this week telling stories of their resilience.
Ashes To Films, a new nonprofit film fund and festival, has teamed up with the New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles to select 16 fire-filled young filmmakers to participate in a free weekly workshop.
“We are not defined by what we have lost, we are defined by what we have created,” founder Shiloh Strong said. “The idea is to give these kids a chance to creatively recover, think about something else and pursue their dreams.”
All participants between the ages of 14 to 18 were forced to move during the fire, burning over 37,000 acres. Strong said 13 people were homeless, while the other three were evacuated.
“If you know your home has burned out, that’s the perfect excuse to give up on your dreams to continue living a creative life,” said Strong, who lost his Santa Barbara home in 2009.
Burbank, California – July 15: Ash2 Films Youth Film Maker Program during a session at the New York Film Academy in Burbank, California on July 15, 2025.
Through the Young Filmmakers Program, Teens participated in workshops across film fields such as scriptwriting, editing and directing. They are currently filming in Universal Studios backlots on Thursday and Friday, according to NYFA Dean Dan McCller.
“It’s something special about being able to help some of these kids who have gone through this traumatic time with your neighbors and community coming here and giving them the opportunity to tell their stories and telling them.
Chloe Frazier said she turned to filmmaking after the Palisade fire burned out, and made a short documentary detailing her experiences in the aftermath.
“I actually got to see the clouds from my school, and I had no idea about it. I didn’t think my house would burn out or do anything. “I don’t think it’s completely ready yet.”
She said she heard about the ashes of the film from her mother and applied for her childhood love for filmmaking.
The group is creating their own short narrative films that require you to overcome themes of hope and adversity, Strong said.
Burbank, California – July 15: Ash2 Films Youth Film Maker Program during a session at the New York Film Academy in Burbank, California on July 15, 2025.
The film doesn’t have to be based on personal experience, but some creators like 14-year-old Prinx Azim Mathis feel that their story reflects how they felt during the fire.
“The whole message (in my story) can be continued on my own without help,” said Mattis, who was kicked out of his home for damages. “It reminded me of myself when I thought everything would be no longer good because I was affected, but I moved on and I’m here.”
In addition to the free workshop, each selected young filmmaker was awarded a $500 microgrant to complete the film that will appear at the Ash Two Ash Film Festival. The festival is currently scheduled for January, the first year of the fire.
“The whole goal here is to all of us come together, celebrate resilience and reach a festival where we can overcome adversity,” Strong said.
Burbank, California – July 15: Ash2 Films Youth Film Maker Program during a session at the New York Film Academy in Burbank, California on July 15, 2025.
Strong said he is trying to expand the festival to artists outside of Los Angeles who have experienced “some degree of personal loss.”
“The idea of combining resilience stories with resilience storytellers brings more opportunities,” Strong said.
The application closed on Wednesday for the nonprofit film grant. This ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 for adult filmmakers. Strong said he hopes to ultimately raise enough funding to support each project, which is being accepted at $25,000.
“I hope this organization can continue doing this because films are really strong and bring people together during tough times,” said Olive Holm, 18, from Altadena. “I’m very grateful for that.”
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