Tri-City
- Open to youth ages 12-25
- Deadline: Last day of the month
- Free to participate
- Amazon Gift Cards (up to $300)
- All art forms accepted (visual art, film, written works, TikTok, original music and more)
- Think of an anchor that helps you when you’re going through a tough time and express it through art! An anchor could be a hobby or activity, a form of self-care like music, journaling, or breathing, or any little thing that brings you joy, helps you cope, and reminds you about your reason for living.
- Learn more by visiting the Hope & Justice contest page
- Get inspired by visiting the Virtual Gallery
September Monthly Prompt: Find Your Anchor
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
“We’ve Never Been Closer”
Claremont High School
Filmmakers: Liam Plunier, Louis Nolte, Emilio Hernandez, Jacksan Gorman, and Dustin Divine-Sicherman
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! Two student-created films from Orange County (“We’ve Never Been Closer” and “Seams”) 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!
Tri-City statewide winners:
- First Place Animated Short: “Seams”
- Statewide Suicide Prevention finalist: “We’ve Never Been Closer”
Tri-City 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 Tri-City who placed in the contest!
Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.
- First Place Hope and Justice: “Breakout” by Charlotte Griffiths
- Third Place Hope and Justice: “Marigold” by Kaylani Raxajack
- Honorable Mention Hope and Justice: “Help Yourself” by Ky Nguyen (This entry addresses themes of violence and abuse and may be upsetting for some.)
- Second Place Monthly Prompt (Tie): “Corroding Coral” by Charlotte Griffiths
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt: “Reusable Bags” by Abby Villanueva
View the full list of April winners across California here.
Tri-City Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievements
The Directing Change Program & Film Contest announced the regional and statewide 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 Animated Short: “Seams”
- Third Place Suicide Prevention (Tie) (Region 3): “We’ve Never Been Closer”
- Honorable Mention Suicide Prevention (Region 3): “Light”
- Second Place Mental Health (Region 3): “Life in Time Lapse”
- Honorable Mention Mental Health (Region 3): “The Gifts You Can Give”
- Honorable Mention Mental Health (Region 3): “A Night Out”
- Honorable Mention Mental Health (Region 3): “Get Help”
View all 2023 winning films here.
Tri-City 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 Tri-City who placed in the contest!
Feeling inspired? Check-out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.
- Honorable Mention Hope & Justice: “A Sea of Garments” by Jolie Limon
View the full list of February winners across California here.
Tri-City 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 Tri-City who placed in the contest! Feeling inspired? Check-out more Hope and Justice art submissions and film submissions from Tri-City youth.
- Third Place (Tie) Monthly Prompt: “New Year, New Me” by Kaylani Raxajack, Claremont High School
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt: “The Hopeful Year” by Abby Villanueva, Claremont High School
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt: “Character Over Stereotypes” by Ibraheem Hammado, Claremont High School
- Second Place Hope and Justice: “Puma-22” by Simon Rockwell, Claremont High School
- Third Place (Tie) Hope and Justice: “Adopting Hope” by Charlotte Griffiths, Claremont High School
View the full list of January winners across California here.
Tri-City School Receives Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Mini Grant
Marshall Middle School in Tri-City has been selected to receive a grant through the Directing Change Program for the 2022-2023 school year. The school 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 an event to screen their films and share resources around youth mental health and suicide prevention. Congratulations to Marshall Middle School!
If at any time you are experiencing an emotional crisis, are thinking about suicide, or are concerned about someone call Tri-City’s Supplemental Crisis Line at (866) 623-9500 or call/text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Both of these are available 24/7.
