When the final European YCC results are announced every summer, the first-place winners in each discipline have a lot to celebrate. Not only are they recognized for catching the eye of a high-profile jury with even higher standards, but they can look forward to being fêted at a gala YCC Award Night in the fall. Some would say, however, that one of the best parts of winning YCC is the opportunity to have an exclusive work experience in the winner’s field.

Pictured above, Pierre Valdivielso – part of the winning YCC 2011 team in Video from France (tied for first place with a team from the Czech Republic) – was invited to go behind-the-scenes at the famed Off-Courts short film festival. The annual event, which takes place in Trouville-sur-mer (France), allowed Pierre to get to work on a music video with Amaury Chabauty and walk away with a unique perspective on the business of making art.

For more on some of the doors YCC has opened for other winners, keep reading…

...but don’t forget to start creating. The project submission deadline for officially-registered schools is April 1st.