WINNER: Planeview Episode 4: The School Song
Lauren McKenzie
Monarch High School – Boulder, CO
2025 TEEN SHORT FILM COMPETITION
Nominees & Winners
The new generation of teen filmmakers has a cinematic pulse on the modern world. With entries from local teens to international students, this year’s short films venture into experimental worlds, dramatic scenes and investigative realms with thrills, chills, laughs and gaffs. Plus animation! And all of these stories are unified by the maverick spirit of the teen filmmaker. Click the video to the right to watch last year's Teen Competition Trailer.
Look back at the 2025 Teen Short Film Competition Award Night to celebrate these emerging youth artists and this year’s short film nominees and winners.
2025 Teen Short Film Competition
Nominees & Winners
The new generation of teen filmmakers has a cinematic pulse on the modern world. With entries from local teens to international students, this year’s short films venture into experimental worlds, dramatic scenes and investigative realms with thrills, chills, laughs and gaffs. Plus animation! And all of these stories are unified by the maverick spirit of the teen filmmaker. Click the video to the right to watch last year's Teen Competition Trailer.
Look back at the 2025 Teen Short Film Competition Award Night to celebrate these emerging youth artists and this year’s short film nominees and winners.
Comedy
The Cool Mom
Stephanie Lyle
Boulder TEC – Boulder, CO
Sweeps Week
Kai Fernandez
Denver School of the Arts – Denver, CO
Animated
WINNER: Abuela’s Cookbook
Isabel Kembel-Rodriguez
Fairview High School – Boulder, CO
Dear Senior Year
Patricia Liu
San Ramon Valley High School – San Ramon Valley, CA
Hatching a Plan
Charlotte Anthony
Menlo-Atherton High School – Atherton, CA
Documentary
WINNER: Nail Tail
Arlo Thompson
Denver School of the Arts – Denver, CO
Common American Crow
Sam Zalkin
Denver School of the Arts – Denver, CO
Vanishing Traditions, Oceans in Crisis: A Message from the Haenyeo
Jihwan (Daniel) Choi
St. Johnsbury Academy Jeju – Seogwipo-si, Jejudo, South Korea
Drama
WINNER: Letters to the Night
Ethan Conklin
Denver School of the Arts – Denver, CO
Confessions
Cade Savage Schwartz
Marin Academy – San Rafael, CA
Marine
Xana Sterling
Denver School of the Arts – Denver, CO
Currently Unavailable
Experimental
WINNER: Resonance
Sofia Macias
Denver School of the Arts – Denver, CO
The Guilt Trap
Cole Wysong
Boulder High School – Boulder, CO
Currently Unavailable
A Day Skateboarding
Daniel Donovan
Niwot High School – Niwot, CO
Thriller
WINNER: Secret Ingredient
Logan Anderson
Denver School of the Arts – Denver, CO
Can You Help Me With Something
Benjamin Lew
Skyview Academy – Highlands Ranch, CO
Currently Unavailable
2740
Afton Carter
Niwot High School – Niwot, CO
Currently Unavailable
Festival Sponsors and Affiliates
