Desoto Arts Institute is a non-profit 501(c)3 located in Southaven, MS, with the mission to support, train, educate and mentor the next generation of youth in professional fields including filmmaking and technology. DAI teaches the craft of creative and positive storytelling by providing a professional working studio environment which actively demonstrates ethics, honesty, generosity, commitment, respect, and love for one another, right here in Desoto County, Mississippi. Our team of students and adults is energetic and excited about creating art which is beautiful, uplifting, and wholesome.

The DAI Film Program is an ongoing project that we run year round. We produce 3-5 short films each year with our students who serve as crew, and are planning to shoot our first feature film next year. The DAI Film Program’s primary goal is to produce short films on a regular basis with each member rotating through various roles in a film’s life cycle i.e. story, writing, directing, location scouting, production, editing, graphics, color grading, advertising, and so on. Working in various roles, each member discovers their strengths while gaining real experience for future jobs in the film industry. Our students are typically aged 13 - 22.