MANCHESTER, NH — The 18th annual New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival took place on May 17 at Chunky’s Cinema in Manchester, bringing together student filmmakers, educators, families, and community partners from across the state for a celebration of youth storytelling and digital media.
Presented in partnership with the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and Media Power Youth, the festival is organized by the New Hampshire Media Teachers Group, a collective of digital media educators dedicated to fostering creativity and visual storytelling opportunities for students statewide.
This year marked a record-breaking milestone for the festival, with 99 film submissions from 15 schools representing every region of New Hampshire, including the Lakes Region, White Mountains, Monadnock Region, Merrimack Valley, Southern New Hampshire, and the Seacoast. Approximately 170 attendees participated in the screening event.
Awards were presented to seven outstanding student films, including the festival’s top honor, awarded to “REM – Relive Every Moment,” a gripping and emotional sci-fi short film created by students Chase Coffin, Raylynn Despres, Amayah Depina, Ryan Moreira, Sawyer Penny, and Yanderson Marte of Nashua Technology Center. The project was led by teacher Jeff Leone.
This year’s festival also highlighted the Spotlight Community Impact Awards, presented in partnership with Media Power Youth with support from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The category encourages students to use media as a catalyst for conversation and connection by showcasing individuals, groups, or projects making a positive impact within their schools and communities.
The inaugural Spotlight Community Impact Award for Photo/Essay was awarded to Jaedaliz Santos of Manchester School of Technology for a narrative honoring teacher Michelle McGee. The essay highlighted McGee’s efforts to create meaningful community connections and introduce students to career pathways through events such as the school’s Car Meet program.
The Spotlight Community Impact Award for Film was awarded to “Bridge the Gap” by Michael Gonzalez of ConVal Regional High School. The film highlighted a unique extracurricular program focused on inclusion, teamwork, and the power of sports to unite students. Judges praised the film’s technical skill and compelling storytelling.
About Media Power Youth
Media Power Youth is building a world where young people are confident, compassionate, and engaged with their communities. We ignite curiosity and self-confidence through learning experiences that help youth turn everyday digital challenges into opportunities for growth. We provide media literacy tools that empower kids to use technology safely and creatively. By collaborating with media, health, and education experts, we bring these innovative programs to New Hampshire schools, libraries, and recreation centers to help youth thrive in our media-driven culture.
About New Hampshire Media Teachers Group
The New Hampshire Media Teachers Group (NHMTG) is a collective of digital media teachers from across New Hampshire. The group’s goal is to foster a love of the digital arts through visual storytelling, providing statewide competitions where students can showcase their work, including the NH High School Short Film Festival and the Halloween PSA Challenge.