Welcome to the Images of Youth 2009 Video Festival! Our hosts and MC's for our first ever on-line festival are members of the Youth Media Institute located at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in West Seattle. Working with the 14 juried selections receiving this year's "Overall Excellence in Media Production" awards, teens from this community group awarded additional "PEER Achievement" awards and cash prizes to 6 of the videos the group felt spoke most clearly and effectively to young people. This video festival is made possible with support from the King County Community Organizing Program.

At some point during your visit to the Film Festival, please take a moment to fill out the online survey. Your help is most appreciated!

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This short introduction welcomes viewers to the festival.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR OVERALL EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA
Click on thumbnails or links to view videos .

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Title:
Break the TV Habit
Student Filmmaker: Samuel Altenberger, Philip Kiefer
Source: McClure Middle School, Seattle, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: Our Public Service Announcement explains the dangers associated with watching too much television. We made this video to encourage people to watch less.
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Title: Cell Phone Policy Student filmmaker: Fatima El-zein, Nicole Jones
Source: Meadowdale High School, Seattle, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: We wanted to get the student’s opinion and perspective on what they thought was the best cell phone policy for our school. Our news class believes that it is very important to hear all the voices that attend our school.

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Title:
Definition
Student filmmaker: Cole Dillingham, Mauricette Lekea, Kennedy Zuringa
Source: REEL GRRLS, Seattle, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: A film about the importance of expressing one’s own personal style, rather than allowing it to be defined by what others think.
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ADDITIONAL PEER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

Title:
Don’t Spill
Student filmmakers: Levi Friedman, Jacob Kutrakun, Ryan Zemke
Source: Ballard High School, Seattle, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: A killer and a life in jeopardy. How could someone like you or me prevent blood from being spilled?
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Title: Drinking Driving PSA Student filmmaker: Bekkah Phillips
Source: Meadowdale High School, Seattle, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: A drunk driver killed my uncle and I don’t want other families to lose someone because a driver was driving drunk. This PSA is a reminder to those teens who will be driving home from the prom that drinking and driving can lead to injury or death. I wanted to make sure that people remember not to drive after drinking because it can change their family’s lives forever.



Title:
Every Vote Counts
Student filmmaker: Jean-Luc Amar, Curtis Hagen
Source: Meadowdale High School, Seattle, WA.
Filmmaker’s Statement: We made our PSA during the elections of ’08. We felt that it was important for every citizen to do their duty and vote.
ADDITIONAL PEER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

Title:
Gaza Protest
Student filmmakers: Dalia Mendoza
Source: Meadowdale High School, Lynnwood, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: As a student, I feel an obligation to report the news not only accurately but also fairly. When in Seattle I saw a protest of the Gaza conflict. As both view points were present at this event I felt that this was a perfect opportunity to fulfill this obligation; reporting both side view points balanced by a segment explaining the conflict by two students, one Arab and one Jew
Title: I Could
Student filmmaker: Spencer Bui
Source: Meadowdale High School, Seattle, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: This video poetry was inspired after the suicide of a fellow classmate.
Title: If It’s So Precious...
Student filmmaker: Sydney Campbell
Source: Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences, Seattle, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: This piece represents the reality of life that we face as we grow older. Many young individuals are oblivious to the troubled world we live in. Happiness and security is not promised to anyone, which is a concept people are forced to face as they grow.
Title: Rape
Student filmmaker: Erin Handley
Source: Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences, Seattle, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: During my sophomore year of high school, I was traveling with my family on Semester at Sea. At one point in the voyage, there were rumors that a girl on board had been raped. This film is an effort to further understand both my own emotions and society’s emotions surrounding this volatile issue.
ADDITIONAL PEER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

Title:
Suicide PSA
Student filmmakers: Alek Greenleaf, Thomas Ives, Janella Ignacio
Source: Meadowdale High School, Lynnwood, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: We chose to do this PSA because we feel that there is always more than one victim when a suicide occurs.
ADDITIONAL PEER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

Title:
The Umbrella
Student filmmakers: Parker Davis, Kaelan Gilman, Henry Shenk
Source: Ballard High School, Seattle, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: A boy hides under his umbrella, everyday rain or shine. One windy day circumstances force him out of his isolation and into social contact.
ADDITIONAL PEER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

Title:
We Miss You
Student filmmakers: Katie Musser, Veronica Mireau, Rosie Gaeist
Source: REEL GRRLS, Seattle, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: Two personal stories about how parent’s substance abuse affects the lives of their children.

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ADDITIONAL PEER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

Title:
You Got Served
Student filmmakers: Emily Deering, Bryce Ellis, Jose Angiuano
Source: Ballard High School, Seattle, WA
Filmmaker’s Statement: A boy takes matters into his own hands when his friends stop coming over for food served by his mom.
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This Concluding video wraps up the 2009 awards presentations and encourages viewers to submit to next year's festival.
We hope you enjoyed this year's selection of youth voices speaking out on issues and ideas young people care about. Check back on this site around December 2009 for details and dates for the 2010 Images of Youth and consider submitting work for next year's festival! Once again, if you have not done so, please do take the time to complete our very brief online survey. We greatly appreciate your participation. Thank you!