The Directing Change program held its 11th annual Award Ceremony at the historic Theatre at Ace Hotel on Tuesday, May 16th. Representing the organization’s return to an in-person ceremony following the pandemic, the event was attended nearly 1,000 by middle school and high school students, as well as parents, contest judges, mental health providers, and entertainment professionals. The event celebrated excellence in mental health storytelling and included screenings of youth-created films from across California, spoken word and musical performances, and the announcement of statewide contest winners. The youth films will help raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention and were submitted to one of the following categories: Suicide Prevention, Mental Health, Through the Lens of Culture, Walk in Our Shoes, Animated Short, or Hope & Justice.
View the Directing Change 2023 Award Ceremony recap film below!
- View clips from the ceremony on Facebook Live
- View photos from the event by Jessi Rose Photography
- View photos from the event by the Directing Change Team
- View the statewide winning films
- View the People’s Choice Award winners
The annual ceremony also celebrated outstanding achievements by content creators and public figures doing an exemplary job of elevating conversations about mental health and serving as role models to aspiring youth filmmakers and those working to make a difference. The Directing Change Award for “Show with Outstanding Messaging around Mental Health” was presented to Ginny & Georgia at the event. This authentic, powerful series interweaves a range of mental health lessons into its storylines, touching on topics such as youth self-harm, experiences with therapy, and the work required to heal. Ginny & Georgia effectively engages with other important topics as well, including generational trauma, suicidal ideation, bullying, body image issues, gender and sexual identity, and more. The series also makes seeking help for mental health challenges seem more approachable for viewers andshows art as a healthy coping outlet.
The films, shows, and other projects honored by Directing Change affirm that storytelling and advocacy are vital tools for changing norms, challenging harmful perceptions, and inspiring action – and remind audiences of the importance of mental health. Learn more about our 2023 Messaging Awards.
For 2023, the Directing Change program received 1,117 films created by 3,173 youth from 178 schools and community-based organizations across California. Entries were judged by more than 300 advocates and professionals in mental health and suicide prevention, members of the media, television and film professionals, and other volunteers.
Youth filmmakers accepting awards at the event spoke on a variety of powerful topics, including the importance of building a community of support, the way filmmaking can be used as tool to spread positive messages, and their hopes for a better future. Youth also shared their perspectives on using art to advance social change, what they’ve learned about prioritizing mental health, and the true impact of art and storytelling.
Attending presenters for the event included Anjali Bhimani (Ms. Marvel, Overwatch), Kelly M. Jenrette (All American: Homecoming), Inde Navarrette (Superman & Lois), Sylvester Powell (All American: Homecoming), Rico Petrino (Education Programs Assistant with the California Department of Education), and Lee Rodriguez (Never Have I Ever). In addition, welcome remarks were provided by Mary R. Barraza, Senior Deputy Director of the Prevention and Child Wellbeing Administration for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Presenters shared their experiences with mental health and suicide prevention; provided words of encouragement to the attending youth and young filmmakers; and reaffirmed the importance of teaching young people how to access mental health resources, prioritize their own wellbeing, and support their peers.
The event also featured special youth performances, including an empowering spoken word performance by Lourdes Marie Gan and an uplifting musical performance by Ashley Quijas.
As a nonprofit organization, Directing Change needs support to continue doing this work. Please consider donating if you are able. We are also incredibly grateful for our sponsors. Thank you to the Take Action for Mental Health Campaign and Blue Shield of California!
2023 Statewide Suicide Prevention Winners:
First Place – That’s What Friends Are For
Orange County
Woodbridge High School
Filmmakers: Marleen Juarez, Pauline Nguyen, and Mahi Thakkar
Advisor: Megan Humphreys
View Film
Second Place – Helping Hands
Marin County
Terra Linda High School
Filmmakers: Makena Reyes, Ashlin Burke, Devin Adelmann, and Juliana Pommier
Advisor: Alex Pryor
View Film
Third Place – Stage Fright
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School
Filmmakers: Alex Kuykendall and Ryan Olenyn
Advisor: Michael Peck
View Film
2023 Statewide Mental Health Winners:
First Place – I Hate
Riverside County
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Filmmakers: Elger Ogoc, Xavier Woods, Zain Khugyani, and Julian Zelaya
Advisor: Jacob Fuller
View Film
Second Place – Turning the Page
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School
Filmmakers: Anthony Palomba and Len Rodden
Advisor: Michael Peck
View Film
Third Place – Sensory Overload
Orange County
University High School
Filmmakers: Moses Fleischman, Alex Lu, and Harrison Roberts-Dahlgren
Advisor: Hali Kessler
View Film
2023 Specialty Category Winners:
Animated Short – Seams
Tri-City (Los Angeles County)
Claremont High School
Filmmaker: Kathryn Ray
Advisor: Tamara Kirkpatrick
View Film
Hope & Justice – Querido Mexico
Santa Clara County
Henry M Gunn High School
Filmmakers: Pablo Schettino and Hugo Carlsson
Advisor: Edward Corpuz
View Film
Through the Lens of Culture (Group 1) – Estamos Juntos
San Mateo County
SafeSpace
Filmmakers: Xamara Carrillo, Desiree Ramon-Aquino, Isabela Duffy, and Chris Almazan
Advisor: Annie Kim
View Film
Through the Lens of Culture (Group 2) – I Need Help Getting Help
Riverside County
Murrieta Valley High School
Filmmaker: Sarah Everett
Advisor: Ella Harrison
View Film
Walk in Our Shoes (The Superhero in Each of Us) – Help is Near
Monterey County North County Recreation and Park District
Filmmaker: Elijah Rivera
Advisor: Isai Rivera
View Film
Walk in Our Shoes (What is Mental Health?) – Reaching Out
Orange County
Las Flores Middle School
Filmmakers: Anna Nguyen, Sophia Li, and Orion Bentley
Advisor: Roxanne Smathers
View Film
Walk in Our Shoes (Words Matter) – Check on Your Friends
Riverside County
David A Brown Middle
School Filmmakers: Elidia Lopez, Charles Tran, Rene Ordoñez, and Ariadna “Ace” Nicanor
Advisor: Amy Pitotti
View Film
Walk in Our Shoes (Words Matter) – Haunted
Los Angeles County
Castaic Middle School
Filmmakers: Karen Soares, Madison Lamb, and Asha Leeb
Advisor: Terry Parent
View Film
2023 People’s Choice Award
Congratulations to our People’s Choice winners!
Suicide Prevention – Helping Hands
Marin County
Terra Linda High School
Filmmakers: Makena Reyes, Ashlin Burke, Devin Adelmann, and Juliana Pommier
Advisor: Alex Pryor
View Film
Mental Health – Sensory Overload
Orange County
University High School
Filmmakers: Moses Fleischman, Alex Lu, and Harrison Roberts-Dahlgren
Advisor: Hali Kessler
View Film
Suicide Prevention
Mental Health Matters
Our Event Sponsors
Take Action for Mental Health Campaign
This event is presented by the Take Action for Mental Health campaign. As part of California’s ongoing mental health movement, the Take Action for Mental Health campaign is designed to help you check in, learn more, and get support for your own mental health or the mental health of someone you care about.
The Take Action for Mental Health campaign, the Know the Signs campaign and the Directing Change Annual Film Contest are part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students funded by counties through the Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) and administered by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities.
Blue Shield
Returning as our signature event sponsor is the Blue Shield of California BlueSky youth mental health initiative. Leading with equity, BlueSky provides resources for youth, families, educators, and caregivers to promote emotional well-being for youth mental health supports through access, awareness, and advocacy. The initiative works with the California Department of Education (CDE) and nonprofit organizations to improve the health and well-being for all California youth, with a focus on health inequities in communities of color.
“Congratulations to the youth filmmakers and winners of the 2023 Directing Change Film Contest. Our Blue Shield of California’s BlueSky youth mental health initiative is working to bridge the gap between mental health stigma and youth mental health support. Your unique, creative lens and voice are needed more than ever to further increase mental health awareness and accessibility to resources that are often left uncovered. We are so proud, grateful, and honored to support your one of a kind work for the fourth year. Continue to make a change in your communities.”
Your Social Marketer
Your Social Marketer, Inc has been a Directing Change partner for many years and is passionate about having the films seen by as many people as possible to inspire much-needed conversations on these topics in our schools, families and communities. They will make a donation for every “Share and Tag” of this year’s finalists.
