Local middle schoolers, high schoolers excel in BCPS Film Expo

Baltimore County Public Schools hosted its highly anticipated 2024 Film Expo on May 16 at The Senator Theatre in Baltimore.

An enthusiastic audience of students, educators, and family and community members viewed finalist films created by BCPS middle and high school students. The audience laughed as animals battled for a “holy banana,” marveled at the graphic innovation of a man searching for his red orb and sat on the edge of their seats as a track team struggled to regain its confidence and win first place.

Most of the honorees wither attended middle or high schools in the Essex, Parkville or Perry Hall areas. The following films were selected by the judges for first place and honorable mention recognition:

MIDDLE SCHOOLAnimated GIFs

First Place: “Horse gallop” by Kmayah Milhous, Perry Hall Middle SchoolHonorable Mention: “Breakdance” by Tamara Garland, Virtual Learning Program

Digital Animation

First Place: “Swan Dive” by Lauren Moran, Perry Hall Middle SchoolHonorable Mention: “Battle for Bastille” by Anna Goddard, Perry Hall Middle School; “Buddy Bench” by Kylie Appod, Perry Hall Middle School

Stop-Motion

First Place (Tie): “Blob and Puddle” by Stacey Mina and Ella Hoang, Lansdowne Middle School; “Skirmish on Paper” by Marc Subido, Perry Hall Middle SchoolHonorable Mention: “The Cheese” by Franklin Ramos and Martin Maya Garcia, Lansdowne Middle School

HIGH SCHOOLAnimated GIFs

First Place: “Snowball Fight” by Andrew Hu, Dulaney High SchoolHonorable Mention: “You Have Been Hacked” by Zion Muturi, Western School of Technology

Promotional Film

First Place: Collaborative promotional video from interactive media program and dance company, Parkville High School

Short Form

First Place: “The Bay” by Brooklyn Dowell and Sydney Nicely, Sparrows Point High SchoolHonorable Mention: “A Dreary Trip Bears the Most Beautiful Fruit” by Megan Iwuoha, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology

Animation

First Place: “My Red Orb” by Ray Aoki, Daniel Schneider, Maegan Relano, Addie McGuire, and Ian Stevenson, Towson High SchoolHonorable Mention: “Food Fight” by Nigel Simon, Parkville High School; “Modern Changes” by Stephanie Portillo, Sparrows Point High School; “The Brighter Side” by Madison Sangbouasy, Parkville High School

Documentary

First Place: “Parkville Track” by Kevin Smotherman, Parkville High SchoolHonorable Mention: “Tattoos” by Amaica Reid, Chesapeake High School; “Gloria” by Liam Kleinschmidt, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology

Experimental

First Place (Tie): “The Light That Falls” by Hannah Eom, Eastern Technical High School; “Sum of its Parts” by Chiara Adjo-Davoh, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and TechnologyHonorable Mention: “Remind Me” by Gabrielle May Artiaga, Eastern Technical High School

Live Action Narrative

First Place (Tie): “A Tidal Phenomenon” by Harper Owen, Hereford High School; “The Holy Banana” by Max Kramer, Hereford High SchoolHonorable Mention “Pool” by Marvin Sanglay, Parkville High School

The competition had more than a dozen external judges, which included film and television editors, retired BCPS educators, art scholars from colleges in the region and others.

The 2024 Expo Committee was comprised of the following BCPS educators: Jason Adelung, Western School of Technology; Joel Baldwin, Perry Hall Middle School; Camille Gibson, BCPS Office of Visual Arts; Rebecca Meiller McCullagh, Eastern Technical High School; Sam Tillman, Hereford High School; Ryan Twentey, BCPS Office of Visual Arts; and Rachel Valsing, Johnnycake Elementary School.

The Film Expo was sponsored by The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., the BCPS Office of Career and Technical Education, the BCPS Office of Visual Arts and The Senator Theatre.

Perry Hall High School student Ajit Thapa Magar crafted one of the film expo posters.