The 5th annual Open Mind Film Festival recently took place at the James Bridges Theater at UCLA on Sunday, April 27th. Over 300 submissions from high school students nationwide, focusing on mental health and wellness, were reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges. Thirteen films were selected for screening, with the top four receiving honors at the festival.

Tomas Officer from Saint Monica Preparatory, Santa Monica, CA, was awarded 1st Place and $1,500 for his film "Feeling Good," addressing peer pressure and drug use among teens. In an unprecedented tie for 1st Placeprize, Alexander Salomon from The Buckley School, Sherman Oaks, CA, also received top recognition for his film "Sunrise Falling," tackling the sensitive topic of teen suicide.

Zahra Bello from Sierra Canyon High School, Chatsworth, CA, secured the 2nd Place spot and $1,200 with her film "Light Work," shedding light on the ambiguity of sexual identity. 

The Friends Choice Award of $1,000 was presented to Sabrina Simek from Harvard-Westlake School, Studio City, CA, for her film "Past, Present & Future," delving into the theme of anxiety.

The event was hosted by renowned Australian actress Gia Carides, known for her roles in films like “Strictly Ballroom” and the “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” franchise. The preeminent panel of judges included industry experts Jon Fitzgerald, Jeremy Kramer, Peter Roth, Vanessa Roth, actress Sarah Gilman, mental health advocate and UCLA graduate student, Meera Varma, and Zach Gottlieb, Stanford student and founder of “Talk with Zach”.

Awards were presented by Rae Brown, UCLA Film student and alumni of the Open Mind Film Festival, and Teen Advisory Council members, Julian Murchison and Grayson Fitzgerald.  

Congratulations to all the talented filmmakers who participated in this impactful festival!