SHREVEPORT, La. — The 2025 Film Prize Junior festival wrapped up this past weekend with a record-breaking number of student films, school participation, and festival attendance. Held as part of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council’s ARTBREAK! Festival, the event featured 115 films from 63 Louisiana schools, including 30 Title One campuses.

The festival, which is presented by the Prize Foundation, serves as a student version of the renowned Louisiana Film Prize and is open to middle and high school students across the state. It guides participants through the filmmaking process—from scripting and production to marketing—encouraging creative collaboration and entrepreneurship.

“Film Prize Junior is one of the most ambitious and inspiring things we get to do,” said Gregory Kallenberg, founder and executive director of the Prize Foundation. “Seeing this many films produced by students, and all the kids and their teachers having the time of their lives at the festival is the coolest!”

More than $18,000 in scholarships and media grants were awarded during the live awards ceremony, which marked the festival’s biggest crowd to date. Festival activities included industry mentorship panels, interactive production exhibits, a poster design contest, and a red-carpet experience for students.

2025 Winners

High School Division:

• Judges’ Choice:Rated – Caddo Parish Magnet High School
• $1,500 media grant, $1,000 teacher award, $500 for student celebration
• Audience Choice:All for the Win – Green Oaks Performing Arts Academy
• $1,500 equipment grant, $250 teacher award, $500 for student celebration

Middle School Division:

• Judges’ Choice:The Link – Holy Family Homeschooling Group
• $1,500 media grant, $1,000 teacher award, $500 for student celebration

Audience Choice: Behind the Ballet – Southfield School

$1,500 equipment grant, $250 teacher award, $500 for student celebration

Best in Genre (High School):

• Animation: Death Finds Life – Caddo Parish Magnet High
• Comedy: Zeke vs. Zeke – Benjamin Franklin High
• Documentary: Street Rider – Istrouma High
• Drama (tie): Last Breath – Bossier Parish School for Technology & Innovative Learning; Physics Theatre Spanish Dance – Baton Rouge Magnet High
• Sci-Fi/Fantasy: See You Tomorrow – Central High
• Thriller (tie): Acceptance – Prairieville High; #9 – Bossier Parish School for Technology & Innovative Learning

Best in Genre (Middle School):

• Animation: Crisp Wisp – Benton Middle
• Comedy (tie): Scurry – Caddo Middle Magnet; Ghost Boy – T.H. Harris Middle
• Documentary: Behind the Ballet – Southfield School
• Drama (tie): The Big Ask – South Highlands Elementary; Masks – Sterlington Middle
• Sci-Fi/Fantasy: The Link – Holy Family Homeschooling Group
• Thriller: The Unexpected – Community School for Apprenticeship Learning

Poster Contest Winners:

• High School: Tengo una Idea – Tara High School
• Middle School: Untied Shoelaces – St. Joseph’s School

Each winning school received a $1,500 tech bundle, $250 teacher award, and a certificate.

Founder’s Circle Grants:

Awarded to select schools to support next year’s films:

• High School: See Me – Hammond Magnet; Count Your Lucky Stars – Caddo Virtual Academy; Dear Lover – Eleanor McMain Senior High
• Middle School: Never Give Up – Fairfield Magnet; The Slip – T.H. Harris Middle; The Day It All Happened – Fisher Middle/High

A virtual festival will run from May 8–15, allowing the public to view and vote for their favorite films online at FilmPrizeJr.com/louisiana.