East Lansing Children's Film Festival

Youth Film Competition Winners

About the Youth Film Competition

The Youth Film Competition, a statewide competition that engages and encourages Michigan’s youth to submit films for exhibit at the Festival.  Students in grades 1 st through 12th conceptualize, create, and collaborate through the medium of film. 

Films are submitted to the Youth Film Competition by December 1.  All films received are then judged by a diverse panel of judges.  Films are rated alongside their peers in one of three grade categories, Elementary, Middle School and High School.

Film ratings are based on film quality, story, editing and if the films meets the criteria of the competition, under 12 minutes, is appropriate for all ages and is void of violent content.  Films with the highest ratings then receive awards for honorable mention, and 3 rd, 2nd and 1st place receive cash prizes.

2003 YFC Winners

Elementary School:

1st Place: Skeletons, 3 mins., Zoë Allen-Wickler. Suttons Bay Elementary
2nd Place: The World of Animation, 11 mins., Jordan Beck, Lemmer Elementary, Escanaba
3rd Place: Hopping on the 88s, 2:40 mins., Alex Capogna, Donley Elementary, East Lansing

Middle School

1st Place: Poof!, 11 mins., POOF! The Movie cast from the Silent Film Workshop at the Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson, MI
2nd Place: The Time Machine, 2:40 mins., Hans Dalton and Brendan O'Hara, Suttons Bay Middle School
3rd Place: Squeegie and Bob, 2:45 mins, Allie Freed, Aimee Plamondon, Nick Ochoa, Sarah Adair, Katie Verts, Suttons Bay Middle School
Honorable Mention: Worms (What else?), 2:53 mins., Lizzy Freed, Luke Wessels, Chris Schneider, Suttons Bay Middle School

High School

1st Place: Trevor & Matt's Short, 5:13 mins., Trevor Scott & Matt Marek, Suttons Bay High School
2nd Place: Desert Solitaire, 4 mins., Max Schultz, Haslett High School
3rd Place: (Tie) Cancer Testimonials-Pillars of Strength, 9:50 mins., Port Huron High School TV Production class of 2003
3rd Place: (Tie) Colored People, 5:00mins., Nathan Daniels, Lahser High School, Bloomfield Hills

Special thanks to the 2003 Youth Film Competition Judges:

Bill Blanchard, USC Cinema Graduate, and 27 year career teaching motion picture production at Lansing Community College
Scott Paul Dunham, Founder and Chairman of the SEMAFX (Southeast Michigan Animation and Special Effects) Network, animator and effects artist
Teri Ryan, Former VP of Crossroads 5 Communications, an independent film & TV production and distribution company in LA. Currently lives in East Lansing

Contact Us

(517) 862-2533





Find Us

  • East Lansing Children’s Film Festival Office
    300 Bailey St., East Lansing, MI 48823 Google map
  • Film Festival Cake Image