From horror films, to life stories, to beachy nostalgia, this year’s film showcase was filled with creativity and innovative storylines that captured the eyes and hearts of families and fellow peers, Friday, May 16. Displayed in the auditorium, 10 of the best student-directed films were showcased and voted upon for awards, making for a night of inspiration and accomplishment. 

Advanced Film teacher Amanda Graves opened the showcase, and applause grew as the films were queued, ready to impress.

“Blank” directed by junior Avery Buehner and sophomore Ryland Mosones

Best Visual Storytelling Award Winner

Set in an art studio, the film invites viewers into the mind of a struggling artist who is trying to paint something magnificent, but ultimately falls to the pressures of perfectionism. The unsatisfied artist, played by Buehner, ends up covering her attempts at perfection with white paint, ultimately leaving the canvas “blank”.With the accompanying song “Photograph” by Stacey Bassetti, a piano piece playing throughout the film, the story explores how perfectionism is a threat to creativity and uniqueness. 

“Halls Tapes” directed by sophomore Luna Gobuyn

A part two to last year’s entry, “Halls”, this film presents a chilling behind the scenes film from three friends exploring an abandoned facility, an adventure that quickly spirals into horror. Filmed entirely on a cam corder, the footage unfolds from the victims perspective, capture their final moments as events take a deadly turn. The film ends on a cliff hanger, making the audience wonder what really happened, and leaving them wanting more. 

“The Average Man” directed by Avery Buehner and junior Wyatt Munger

Best Short Film Award Winner

This documentary-style film recalls the life of the director’s father, James Buehner. A life that takes many turns, the film unveils the different roads that J. Buehner followed: running high school track, playing saxophone, training in ballet, getting married based on love at first sight, serving as a spy in the army for 10 years, earning an MBA, becoming a father and running an accounting firm. Through his full, diverse life, it is revealed that life will only be full if different roads are followed and one is not afraid to take risks. 

Buehner, who is a first year advanced film student, has found lots of success at this year’s showcase. “The Average Man”, which won best short film, was inspired by her dad’s many career paths, as well as a poem by Robert Frost. 

“My dad is a really cool person, [he has taken as many paths as possible and as many chances as he could throughout his life,” Buehner said. “Creating the film was a long but fun process and I hope the audience sees that life never ends, it just changes, and [there are] many opportunities to go after.” 

“Watch Your Mouth” directed by sophomore Sophia Flores

This beachy, nostalgic film follows two girls as they reflect on memories they have shared. With a soundtrack featuring The Backseat Lovers, the film focuses on aesthetic shots that recreate the feeling of reliving a memory, and the color grading captures the feeling of yearning to be back in that moment with that person. 

“Una Bufona” directed by senior Meghan Shaffer

Inspired by  the spanish word for  jester, “un bufon”, Schaffer was struck by the absence of a feminine form, and channeled that frustration into this animated project. The film tells the story of Jacy, a budding jester looking to defy gender roles and become the first female to complete jester training. Paired with a dramatic soundtrack, Jacey is poisoned by her misogynistic male colleagues and taken in an ambulance. Afterwards, her boss finds out and her sabotagers are immediately fired. Following the incident, the circus began promoting feminism and giving Jacy the spotlight, proving women do not have to conform to societal norms and birthing the idea of una bufona. 

“Hello, My Name Is” directed by junior Santiago Lee-Baez

A self-portrait film starring Lee-Baez, the story invites viewers into the internal struggle he takes  as he prepares for an important meeting. In an attempt to become someone he is not, Lee-Baez is haunted by the “Hello, My Name Is” name tag, as he grapples with the answer to the question. As the film concludes, Lee-Baez embraces his authentic self and be truer to his personality, which is reaffirmed as he steps on the name tag and confidently leaves.

“Stay With Us” directed by sophomore Aaden Nguyen

“Stay With Us” follows a protagonist that wakes up in a colorful world, and wanders aimlessly through the halls of a school campus. Entering an eerie elevator, the main character answers a phone call from a phone mysteriously sitting in the elevator, only to be suddenly stuck in a mysterious time loop of ringing phones. Leaving the audience members on the edge of their seats, the film takes intriguing turns, making for an interesting thriller that simply cannot be put into words.

“What Follows” directed by senior Jermaine Doria

Audience Choice Award Winner

A comedic, reality style film, “What Follows” tells the tales of a haunted teen that is accompanied by a friendly ghost. The main character’s family is interviewed and they all believe he is crazy for thinking there is a ghost that follows him. Throughout the film, a girl that wants to be his friend is rejected by him, as he grew to believe he was antisocial and weird. The film concludes with the protagonist learning to appreciate being wanted regardless of being stereotyped.

As the director and main character, Doria wanted to entertain and engage the audience with a comedic film, while also telling an important message. Giggles erupted throughout the audience as punch lines were dropped. 

“I wanted to make something people could laugh at,” Doria said. “The film was a representation of friendships, saying the friends you don’t want are the ones that will stay the closest.” 

“Black Blood” directed by sophomore Luna Gobuyan and sophomore Francesca Martinez (editing)

Best Editing Award Winner

Set in downtown Ventura, a joker like character played by junior Jack Fredericks walks the streets pestering and scaring townspeople. “Paint it Black” by The Rolling Stones set the intense feeling of the scenes as the man grows more paranoid and hysterical. The dark character ends up killing everyone he sees and spirals into a void of simultaneous guilt and satisfaction. Authorities look for the man As the last scene plays where Harley Quinn is interviewed about the Joker’s whereabouts. 

“O Kanha” directed by Kashika Rana

Best Directing Award Winner

The main character, played by senior Kashika Rana, escapes her sadness by chasing spiritual peace and fully surrendering herself to Kanha. The musical film displays scenes of the main character running through her garden and dancing at the beach, connecting with her culture and searching her soul for true rest. With all of the lyrics translated to English, the audience could understand and resonate with the need to find peace of mind. 

“The Audience” directed by Santiago Lee-Baez 

Best Acting Award Winner 

Best Cinematography Award Winner

Starring junior George Meier, “The Audience” paints the mind of a musician struggling to find confidence in the spotlight. As the musician practices and paces before an unexpectedly soon performance, he finds that no one is in the audience, and that the pressures of the eyes imagined may just be the voices in his head that pressure him to play something masterful. 

Lee-Baez, who has been a film student for two years, inspired many with his films. 

“The idea of having to perform in front of people, which can be stressful, was what inspired the film,” Lee-Baez said. “I wanted the film to show that anyone can do what they want, without having to think about what other people will say.” 

Following the ten films, there was a quick intermission where audience members and a panel of judges could vote on awards. A handful of awards, little Oscars, were given many, including sophomore Lily Beck for best screenplay, Santiago Lee-Baez for best cinematography, sophomore Francesca Martinez for best editing, and Avery Buehner best short film overall. 

With planning beginning in early May, film teacher Amanda Graves compiled a panel of anonymous judges made up of past teachers and film student competition winners. Programs, film categories, and the showcase timeline are all planned weeks in advance to ensure a smooth event. By putting so much effort into the showcase, Graves opens doors for students to continue their creative passions. 

“It is important to get student films into the world because it is a creative form of expression and you can use film as a way to show the world how you see it,” Graves said. “You literally direct the way the audience sees your film and your perspective.”