At age 17, Ballard High School graduate Jesse Harris wrote and directed a feature-length film, “Living Life,” that received a multi-city theatrical release. As a followup, he’s got his eye on something a little bigger – a multi-day, international, youth filmmaking event.

“This is so much harder,” Harris, now 23, said. “Making a feature film was hard, but this is insane.”

Harris is the cofounder and executive director of the National Film Festival for Talented Youth, an annual festival for young filmmakers that features screenings, workshops and music. It runs April 24 to April 26 at the Seattle Center this year.

After the release of “Living Life,” Harris said young filmmakers from all over the world started contacting him for help and advice. He said he realized he couldn’t do much for them as just a filmmaker so, along with Kyle Seago and Jocelyn R.C., founded NFFTY in 2007.

That first year it was a one-day event and 14 films were screened. By 2008, the festival had grown into a multi-day event that screened 75 films. This year, the festival features 113 films from eight countries.

Harris said the festival’s budget has doubled every year and he’s been lucky that so many companies are interested in sponsoring the event despite the slumping economy. He was able to raise $100,000 for this year’s festival despite being the only year-round staff person.

This year, ticket sales are way up, the festival has enough money to advertise, and it received more than 400 film submissions.

“The fact that we are growing is really cool and impressive,” Harris said. “We have to work double and triple hard just to keep up.”

Harris said there is a lack of organizations to support the next generation of filmmakers and NFFTY is a unique solution to that.

“It’s really the only thing like it,” he said.

Sami Kubo, a 2008 Ballard High School graduate, is having her film “Ladies in Armor” shown at NFFTY this year.

She said NFFTY is unlike other festivals because not only does it focus solely on youth-made media, but bases its selections on their message and content, not their production values. She said the event also serves as a great chance for high-school moviemakers to meet and talk with their college-age counterparts.

Ballard High School senior Andy Tran’s film “Left Side” is also being shown this year.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said. “It’s a national thing and I’m trying to get my name out there.”

Harris said the festival is getting more attention than ever. This year, Variety is sending a reporter to cover it and 30 industry people, including agents and producers, are flying to Seattle for NFFTY.

Five of the 113 films for this year’s festival come from Ballard High School. Ballard is heavily represented because they are good, not because they are local, Harris said. He said the Ballard High School film program is at the top level on a national scale.

Two of the films Harris said he is most excited about this year are “Grind and Glory” and “Perfect Sport.”

“Grind and Glory” is a documentary about up-and-coming rappers from Oakland. He said the film is gritty and honest in its depiction of the personal trials the rappers face.

“Perfect Sport” is a feature-length film that was written, directed and starred in by a 20-year-old from Vashon Island. It also stars actor Harvey Keitel’s daughter and YouTube celebrity lonelygirl15.

With the current success of NFFTY, Harris is already working on its next evolution, including NFFTY 365, a year-round program for youths in the Puget Sound region, and NFFTY Earth, a campaign to use film to promote environmentally-friendly initiatives.