NYC Public School Film Festival

3rd Annual New York City Public School Film Festival

The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) and NYC Department of Education (DOE) congratulate the students whose films were chosen as part of the 3rd Annual New York City Public School Film Festival. The New York City Public School Film Festival is an opportunity for students to submit their work and perhaps see it screened.

Thirty-two student films (Click Here for the Festival Program) from public schools citywide were selected in the categories of Feature/Narrative, Animation, Experimental, PSA Advocacy and Documentary by a panel of NYC Public School Film Festival teachers and media professionals. The student filmmakers chosen represent the diversity of public school student voices across the five boroughs.

3rd Annual New York City Public School Film Festival Conversations with the Pros [videos]

3rd Annual New York City Public School Film Festival Educational Resources

X MORPH 2021 | Directors: Daniella Croland, Ellie Hui, Makeda Firmin, Blake Bourous, Joseph Dicecco | Editor: Yuna Soetomo | Animators/Storyboard Artists: Jaclyn Abramova, Sofia Adinolfi, Ashlee Arriaga, Blake Bourous, Mackalia Bradshaw Forrester, Amerie Chapel, Daniella Croland, Ilona Darieva, Joseph Dicecco, Nishaun Dow, Makeda Firmin, Sophie Ganshamballi, Light Haynes, Ellie Hui, Toni Innamorato, Yeji Kim, Seth Lee, Theresa Martin, Reeana Miller, Margo Moore, Ebony Morrison, Ariel Odessky, Heather Oneill, Janzelle Rodriguez, Miguel Santos, Yuna Soetomo, Izabela Zajac | Special thanks (Animator): Gianna Tafa | School: Art and Design High School | Teacher: Adam Newman | Principal: Maximillia Re Sugiura

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE | School: Urban Assembly School for Leadership and Empowerment | Teacher: Patrick Lovejoy | Principal: Natalie Jufer | A short animation from students at Urban Assembly

TO EVERY END | Directors, Writer, Animator: Ellie Hui | Key Cast: Ellie Hui, Daniella Kavouriadis | School: Art and Design High School | Teacher: Adam Newman | Principal: Maximillia Re Sugiura | As baby stars work their way through space, they are taught their place in the Universe.

QUARANTINE | Director, Writer, Producer, Animator/Artist: Alexandra A Milyukov | School: Art and Design High School | Teacher: Seung Lee | Principal: Maximillia Re Sugiura | A scope into one of the many experiences during the global pandemic. It might not be an easy time for any of us but it's important to stay hopeful.

SELF CONFIDENCE | Director, Writer, Producer, Key Cast: Amisha Mahadeo | School: M.S. 202 Robert H. Goddard | Teacher: Kye Weaver | Principal: William Fitzgerald | It's all about self-love and confidence. Everyone has their own thing that makes them unique and beautiful. Self-confidence can change your whole outlook on yourself and feel comfortable in your own skin.

MEET THE OPTIONS PROGRAM | 2020 | Director: Thomas Burke | Editor: Thomas Burke | Audio: John Negron | School: The Scholars' Academy | Teacher: Michael Pepe | Principal: Michele Smyth. | This documentary follows the New York City Police Foundations Options Program which was designed in partnership with the NYPD to build stronger connections between youth and police while keeping teens active and out of trouble by working alongside police to make their community a better place.

QUARANTEENS | 2021 | Directors: Khalil Baxter, Laye Diakite, Muhammad Fisiru, Mia Micic, Derick David Morales, Mateo Morales, Starasia Nelson, Ashlee Reyes, Ethan Rufli, Olesya Shanabrook, Artur Zhigalev, Cirilo Ordonez | Writers: Starasia Nelson, Ashlee Reyes, Ethan Rufli, Olesya Shanabrook, Artur Zhigalev | Producers: Kate Levy, Ambreen Qureshi | School: Educational Video Center | Schools Represented: Cascades High School, City-As-School, Flushing International High School, Independence High School, Lower East Side Prep High School, Institute for Collaborative Education, International High School at Union Square, Satellite Academy | Teacher: Kate Levy | Principals: Claire Sheehan, Princiapl of Cascades High School (Rachel Seher, Principal of High School M560, City As School; Kevin Hesseltine, Principal of Flushing International High School; Ron Smolkin, Principal of Independence High School; Rene Anaya, Principal of Lower East Side Prep High School; Peter Karp, Principal of Institute for Collaborative Education; Vadewatie Ramsuchit, Principal of International High School at Union Square; Steven Zbaida, Principal of Satellite Academy | Produced during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic in NYC, "Quaranteens" follows the experiences of a group of high-schoolers as they navigate familial relationships, frontline work, racism, healthcare and economic injustice.

HELP, I'M DROWNING | Director, Writer, Producer: Luna Ubide Holmes | Key Cast: Luna Ubide Holmes, Gianluca La Villa, Daniela Ubide, Indigo Ubide Holmes | Editor: Luna Ubide Holmes | Cinematographer: Luna Ubide Holmes | Animator: Luna Ubide Holmes | School: Frank Sinatra School of the Arts | Teacher: Jason Spagnuoli | Principal: Gideon Rafel Frankel | A girl reflects on her identity and place in the world during a bath.

LUNCH | Director, Writer, Producer: Calvin Ryman | School: Art and Design High School | Teacher: Hanan Harchol | Principal: Maximillia Re Sugiura

RIDING THE AIRWAYS | Director: Benjamin Snazelle | School: Urban Assembly New York Harbor School | Principal: Jeffrey Chetirko | "Riding the Airways" is an experimental music video that features two unique tracks composed and produced by Benjamin Snazelle. Each song has their own flavor and their own style of visualization.

THE OBSTACLE | Director, Writer, Editor: Gerson Cherec | School: Brooklyn International High School | Teacher: ReelWorks | Principal: Kathleen Rucker | My film is based on dreams. Before I can achieve anything there will be obstacles, but you know what? "There is no obstacle bigger than your dreams." - Gerson Cherec

SILHOUETTE | Director, Writer, Producer: Emilio Rios School: Academy for Careers in Television & Film | Teacher: Ricardo Thompson | Principal: Edgar Rodriguez | A PSA demonstrating how the Covid-19 virus is spread.

DOMINO | Director & Producer: Tom Pinkhasov, Connor Campbell | School: Staten Island Technical High School | Teacher: Michael Van Buren | Principal: Mark Erlenwein | Domino is a public service announcement about teenage substance abuse and how every choice we make in life has consequences.

DELUSIONS | Director, Writer, Producer: Rebecca Anton | School: Frank Sinatra School of the Arts | Teacher: Jason Spagnuoli | Principal: Gideon Rafel Frankel

PEAK CHIC | Director, Writer, Producer, Key Cast, Editor: Oma Ali | School: The Young Women's Leadership School of Astoria | Teacher: ReelWorks | Principal: Allison Persad | This commercial presents Peak Chic masks, a fashion product that prioritizes looks over safety.

THE MAGIC (AND PAIN) OF SLEEP | Director, Writer, Key Cast: Xavier Cloud | School: Manhattan Early College School For Advertising | Teacher: Todd Drake | Principal: Sarah Kaplan | Quarantine has created more than isolation as a challenge. What happens when it affects sleep too?

DOG POOP | Director: Nicola Nasser | Key Cast: Loor Nasser, Joseph Nasser, Jude Nasser, Luke Nasser, Warrd Nasser | School: Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy MS-HS 141 | Principal: Lori O'Mara | People leave more dog poop when it is snowing in Manhattan

TYPES OF STUDENTS DURING ONLINE SCHOOL | Director, Writer, Producer: Sabriha Safa | School: M.S. 202 Robert H. Goddard | Teacher: Kye Weaver | Principal: William Fitzgerald | This is about different students and how they act during online school. They all have different characteristics and are all fun in their own way!

MIRROR | Director, Writer, Producer, Key Cast: Hector Valentine | School: Academy for Careers in Television & Film | Teacher: Ricardo Thompson | Principal: Edgar Rodriguez | A young father is slowly becoming unhinged as he struggles to deal with his impending divorce.

SISTAS | Director & Writer: Mahadia Oliver | Producers: Marquis Smalls, Mahadia Oliver | Key Cast: Mahadia Oliver, Sakari Charity, Tara Charity, Marquis Smalls | School: PS/IS 187 | Teacher: Sarah Moran | Principal: Jessica Strong | Two middle school aged African-American step sisters practice their art and debate their desire to go back to school in a post covid-19 world.

ERASED | Director & Writer: Leonardo Cross | Producers: Giselle Huerta, Dora Espinoza | Key Cast: Diego Arciniega, Charles William Putt Jr. | PA: Edgar Cruz | School: Art and Design High School | Teacher: Hanan Harchol | Principal: Maximillia Re Sugiura | After the death of his brother, a man looks for answers as he enters a journey of acceptance and self-discovery.

COLORS | Director, Writer, Producer, Key Cast: Khai Umstead | School: Academy for Careers in Television & Film | Teacher: Ricardo Thompson | Principal: Edgar Rodriguez | A teenage girl uses her artwork to express her feelings about her father

HIM: ORIGIN | Director, Writer, Producer, Key Cast: Jesiah Bailey | School: Art and Design High School | Teacher: Kevin Lopez | Principal: Maximillia Re Sugiura | A dark, tragic and brutal take on the "vigilante" archetype; identifying the true psychotic nature of someone who devotes their life to justice and pain.

SNACKS | Directors: Nicholas Graham, Akasha Maldonado | Writers: Ashanti Tirado, Cynthia Bravo | Producers: Dunel Charles, Shonika Gibbs, Tahjee Williams, Jordan, Henry & David | Key Cast: Md Abu Sayef, Ms. Wilson, David Nelinson, Damien Falu | School: East Brooklyn Community High School | Teacher: David Nelinson | Principal: Patrick Mcgillicuddy | A young man with purpose and an appetite must use his cunning wit to achieve his ultimate goal...