Amanda Danziger, founder and filmmaker for Ferasha Films was recently awarded the "Under 40" award from Drexel University for her film "The Backyard Philly Project."

The film also won an award in August from the Philadelphia Geek Awards for "Best in Feature Film for the Year," Danziger said.

Danziger, a 2006 Parkland graduate, told The Press the film is about four teens growing up in Penn Town, an inner-city neighborhood in Philadelphia.

"I really think the film gives you a look into the inner-city teen," she said.

The film came about after Danziger met Adam Bruckner, a youth director at the Helping Hand rescue mission in Philadelphia, after he had come across a documentary she filmed in India.

"He told me so much about the neighborhood and about an idea he had of giving cameras to students and doing a documentary," Danziger said.

After visiting the after-school program at the rescue mission, getting to know the kids and building their trust, Bruckner picked the teens and she picked her film crew and started filming.

"Filming started in October 2011 and finished in June 2012," Danziger said. "Post production was from October 2012 to April, and in May, the film was officially premiered at Drexel."

"This was my first feature film," Danziger said. "This was my first time working with a crew."

Danziger's crew includes filmmaker and photographer Nienke Izurieta from Canada, formerly of Allentown, graphic designer Lucas Clauser of Scotland, formerly of Bethlehem, cinematographer Bruce Kite of Kutztown, and marketing and communications representative for Ferasha Films Brendan Schaller of Philadelphia, formerly of Schnecksville.

Danziger, a 2011 graduate of Drexel University, said her passion for film started at the university when she took a mission trip in 2008 to Rwanda.

To show her appreciation to the people who sponsored her trip she bought a camera, took pictures at the boys home where she had volunteered in Rwanda while she was there and that peaked her interest into film.

"It [filming] grew on me and I started to plan my next documentary," Danziger stated.

She said her second documentary was about the fair trade and women in India.

"The film is getting a lot of good reviews," Danziger said. "I am excited to see where it goes."

"I just want to encourage people from the Lehigh Valley to attend one of our screenings.

"I know the film is on Philadelphia, but it is our backyard and I think it is important to know what is happening in your backyard."

She said she does not know what her next documentary will be.

"I would like to go international for my next project," Danziger said.

She has many creative ideas and does a great deal of research before doing a film.

Danziger lives with her husband Ariel and twin sons, Noah and Judah, in South Whitehall.

For more information about Danziger and her crew, "The Backyard Philly Project" or screening dates for the film, go to ferashafilms.com.