The Young Director Award (YDA) is an international competition dedicated to celebrating and showcasing emerging directorial talent, rather than a traditional film festival. The "Film School Category" within the YDA specifically recognizes the work of student filmmakers, with eligibility for films made as student projects. This category is divided into two sub-categories based on film length: up to 10 minutes and 10 minutes and over, with the requirement for submissions over 10 minutes to also provide a shorter teaser/trailer. Films entered into the Film School category can also be submitted to other categories within the awards. The YDA aims to highlight directors with no more than three years of professional experience.