AWARDS CEREMONY

Announcing our 14th Annual Directing Change Awards Ceremony!

Date: Thursday, May 21st 2026
Time: 11am to 2pm PST
Place: The United Theater
929 S Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Youth Creating Change will hold its 14th annual Directing Change Film Contest Awards Ceremony at the historic United Theater on Broadway on Thursday, May 21st. The event welcomes middle school and high school students, parents, educators, contest judges, mental health providers and entertainment professionals. The event celebrates excellence in mental health storytelling and includes screenings of youth-created films from across California, announcement of statewide contest winners, and a range of esteemed guest speakers and presenters.

Films created for the Directing Change Film Contest help raise awareness of mental health, suicide prevention, and substance use prevention in schools and communities.

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We are also once again hosting a 2026 People’s Choice Award! This is your chance to vote for your favorite film.

Vote for your favorite film to win the “2026 People’s Choice” award in each category. The film will be recognized on social media and filmmakers will receive an Amazon gift card.
Share your favorite films & tag us; every share will result in a donation to the program by one of our sponsors!
Tag us @youthcreatingchangeorg (TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook)

A big thank you to our sponsor, the Blue Shield of California BlueSky youth mental health initiative.

Mental Health

Bottled Up
Orange County
El Dorado High School

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Superhero
Orange County
Los Alamitos High School

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Headwrangler
Riverside County
Ramona High School

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A Step Forward
Los Angeles County
Temple City High School

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The Breaking Point
Tri-City
Village Academy High School

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Breaking the Pattern
Los Angeles County
Warren High School

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Take a Breath
Fresno County
Sanger West High School

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You Are Not Alone
Stanislaus County
Gregori High School

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The Weight We Carry
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School

Vote Share

Suicide Prevention

I am Seen
Imperial County
Southwest High School

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Sparks
San Bernardino County
Upland High School

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Break the Silence
Tri-City
Claremont High School

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THE NOISE
Los Angeles County
Warren High School

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Puzzled
Fresno County
Sanger West High School

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You are more than your expectations
Shasta County
Redding School of the Arts

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Without The Piece
Stanislaus County
Johansen High School / Viking Production Network

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Hear My Song
Sacramento County
Franklin High School

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Trust Your Gut
Butte County
Pleasant Valley High School

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In the lead up to the Awards Ceremony, Youth Creating Change also announced the recipients of its 2026 Messaging Awards, honoring exceptional content, creators, and advocates for elevating conversations about mental health and suicide prevention, reducing stigma, and encouraging a culture of help-seeking and support. This year’s winning films, shows, and advocates provide a shining example of how to encourage positive change through entertainment while also reminding all creatives that their work has the power to shape how audiences understand important topics like mental health in their own lives and communities.