Riverside County
- Open to youth ages 12-25
- Deadline: May 31, 2023
- Free to participate
- May is Mental Health Matters Month and a great time to take action for mental health! Create a film, poem, or art piece about how young people can #takeaction4MH by checking-in with themselves and others, learning more about mental health, and getting support when needed.
- All submissions should incorporate the lime green ribbon as a symbol of mental health.
For more information, view the monthly prompt page.
Enter your work here
May Monthly Prompt:
Take Action for Mental Health
Featured Art
For contest rules, submission category details, entry form
and other information visit the contest page.
- Open to Middle, High School and College Students (12-25)
- Deadline: March 1, 2023
- Free to participate
- Cash prizes for youth (up to $1000)
- Regional winners advance to statewide round of judging
- Award Ceremony in May
Submission Categories
- Suicide Prevention
- Mental Health
- Through the Lens of Culture
- Walk in Our Shoes
- Animated Short
- Hope and Justice
Featured Film
For contest rules, submission category details, entry form and other information visit www.DirectingChangeCA.org
Statewide Winners Announced in Annual Directing Change Film Contest
Statewide winners in all categories were announced by the Directing Change Program & Film Contest! Five Riverside county films (“Behind the Smile,” “I Hate,” “I Need Help Getting Help,” and “Reconociendo los Sintomas de Trastornos Mentales en el Cuerpo,” “The Reflections Upon a Picture”) were screened at a red-carpet award ceremony hosted at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 16th. Congratulations to the filmmakers who placed!
Riverside County statewide winners:
- First Place Mental Health: “I Hate“
- First Place Through the Lens of Culture: “I Need Help Getting Help”
- Third Place Through the Lens of Culture (Tie): “Silenced”
- Fifth Place Through the Lens of Culture: “Failure”
- First Place Walk in Our Shoes – Words Matter (Tie): “Check on Your Friends”
- Second Place Walk in Our Shoes – What is Mental Health: “Clarity”
- Second Place Hope & Justice: “Forgotten Sorrows”
Riverside County Youth Place in April Hope & Justice Contest
April’s Hope & Justice contest asked youth to share actions young people can take to improve and support the world we live in to celebrate Earth Day. Congratulations to the youth from Riverside County who placed in the contest!
Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Riverside County youth.
- First Place Monthly Prompt: “Pick Up Your Trash” by Jayden England
- Second Place Hope and Justice: “Worms” by Shayla Luong
- Honorable Mention Hope and Justice: “Light Behind the Fog”
View the full list of April winners across California here.
Riverside County Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievements
The Directing Change Program & Film Contest announced the regional finalists in the 11th annual student contest encouraging young people to create short films and art projects about suicide prevention and mental health.
- First Place Suicide Prevention (Region 2): “Behind the Smile”
- Second Place Suicide Prevention (Region 2): “Mended Bonds”
- Third Place Suicide Prevention (Region 2): “The Reflections Upon a Picture”
- Second Place Mental Health (Region 2): “I Hate”
- Honorable Mention Mental Health (Region 2): “Reconociendo los Sintomas de Trastornos Mentales en el Cuerpo”
In addition to the films above, numerous other fantastic films from Riverside County also received “Honorable Mention” in their respective categories. View all 2023 winning films here.
Riverside County Youth Place in February Hope & Justice Contest
February’s Hope & Justice contest asked youth to share how they are “More Than One,” reflecting on how they’re living beyond labels, how they find strength when they feel alone, and their hopes for increased representation in the future. Congratulations to the youth from Riverside County who placed in the contest!
Feeling inspired? Check-out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Riverside County youth.
- Second Place Monthly Prompt, Film and Written Works: “Proud to be Different” by Cande Torres
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt, High School Art: “Representation Matters” by Shayla Luong
- Honorable Mention Hope & Justice: “A Beautiful Mind” by Abigail Roulette
View the full list of February winners across California here.
Riverside County Youth Place in January Hope & Justice Contest
January’s Hope & Justice contest asked youth to reflect on their hopes for 2023 and the changes they want to see in themselves and their communities. Congratulations to the youth from Riverside County who placed in the contest! Feeling inspired? Check-out more Hope and Justice art submissions and film submissions from Riverside County youth.
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt – TikTok Challenge: “Hopes for LMMS 2023” by Lena Pham and Alezza Gallegos, Landmark Middle School
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt – TikTok Challenge: “Heroic Goals” by Benjamin Seay Mcgee, Landmark Middle School
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt – TikTok Challenge: “The Way of Music – Who is She TBH” by Cande Torres and Simarin Rait, Landmark Middle School
- Honorable Mention Hope and Justice: “Catching my inspiration” by Joshua Cruz, Luiseno School
- Honorable Mention Hope and Justice: “Molding Yourself” by Lailene Jimenez and Natalie Ramos, Landmark Middle School
- Honorable Mention Hope and Justice: “Hope for people to find their happy spot” by Liliana Hernandez, Lakeland Village School
View the full list of January winners across California here.
Riverside County Schools Receive Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Mini Grants
Six schools and youth-based programs from Riverside County have been selected to receive a grant through the Directing Change Program for the 2022-2023 school year. Grantees will receive support from the Directing Change team to teach lessons on mental health and suicide prevention and to facilitate the creation of youth-produced short films on these topics. At the end of the year, they will host events to screen their films and share resources around youth mental health and suicide prevention. Congratulations to this year’s grantees!
- Coachella Valley High School
- Heritage High School
- Indio Teen Center
- John F. Kennedy Middle College High School
- Nellie Coffman Middle School
- Rubidoux High School
Riverside County Youth Place in November Hope & Justice Contest
November’s Hope & Justice contest asked youth to reflect on someone who has inspired them, supported them, or used their influence for good. Participants selected a “Mental Health Hero” as their focus, using their chosen artform to highlight someone who helps others see the possibilities within themselves, inspiring them to overcome and do great things with their lives. Congratulations to the youth from Riverside County who placed in the contest!
- First Place – Hope and Justice: “Words of Hope” by Shayla Luong, Valley View High School
- Third Place – Film and Written Works: “A Brick Wall” by Christian Bolanos, Landmark Middle School
- Honorable Mention – Film and Written Works: “My Hero” by Nicole Vincent, 10th Grade, David A Brown Middle School
View the full list of November winners here.
Riverside County Youth Place in September Hope & Justice Contest
September’s Hope & Justice Contest asked youth to think about what their anchor is when going through a tough time. Their anchor could be anything that brings them joy, helps them cope, or reminds them of their reasons for living. Congratulations to the youth from Riverside County who placed in the contest!
- Third Place – High School Art: “Feeling the Melody” by Audrey Hills, Palm Desert High School
- Honorable Mention – Written Works: “Not Me” by Angel Rodriguez, Indio High School
View the complete list of September winners here.
Statewide Winners Announced in Annual Directing Change Film Contest
Statewide winners in the Through the Lens of Culture, Hope & Justice, Animated Short and Walk in Our Shoes categories were announced by the Directing Change Program & Film Contest at the virtual awards ceremony!
- First Place Through the Lens of Culture: Polytechnic High School “Solitude”
- Second Place Through the Lens of Culture: Murrieta Valley High School “El Secreto”
- Third Place Through the Lens of Culture: Valley View High School “Vergüenza”
- Fifth Place Through the Lens of Culture – TIED: Ramona High School “Transposed”
- First Place Hope & Justice – Hope – TIED: David A Brown Middle School “White Noise”
- Second Place Hope & Justice – Hope: David A Brown Middle School “Redefined Hope”
- Fifth Place Animated Short – TIED: Eleanor Roosevelt High School “Out to Sea”
- Fourth Place Walk in Our Shoes – The Superhero in Each of Us: Mountain View Middle School “Basketball Hero”
- Third Place Walk in Our Shoes – What is Mental Health & Words Matter – TIED: David A Brown Middle School “Unfiltered”
- Fourth Place Walk in Our Shoes – What is Mental Health & Words Matter: David A Brown Middle School “Consider The Following”
Riverside County Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievements
The Directing Change Program & Film Contest announced the regional finalists in the 10th annual student contest encouraging young people to create short films and about suicide prevention and mental health.
- First Place Suicide Prevention (Region 2): Eleanor Roosevelt High School “The Light in the Darkness”
- Second Place Suicide Prevention (Region 2): Eleanor Roosevelt High School “Dear Diary” (Team Pick)
- Third Place Suicide Prevention – TIED (Region 2): Murrieta Valley High School “Breaking Your Trust” (Team Pick)
- Second Place Mental Health Matters (Region 2): Ramona High School “Not an Adjective” (Team Pick)
- Third Place Mental Health Matters (Region 2): Eleanor Roosevelt High School “First Step”
Riverside County Schools Receive Suicide Prevention Mini Grants
Five schools and youth-based clubs from Riverside County have been selected to receive a grant through the Directing Change Mini Grant Program in the 2021-2022 school year. Each team will work with youth in their communities to teach lessons on mental health and suicide prevention and support youth as they create short films on these topics. These grantees will also be hosting events at the end of the school year to share the films and raise awareness in their communities around youth mental health and suicide prevention. Congratulations to this year’s grantees!
If at any time you are experiencing an emotional crisis, are thinking about suicide or are concerned about someone call the Riverside County HELPline at (951) 686-HELP (4357) or text HOME to 741-741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line. Both of these are available 24/7.
