TOWSON, MD—Budding filmmakers from Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) showcased their skills at the 2025 Film Expo on May 15th. The event, held at The Senator Theatre in Baltimore, saw an array of 26 finalist films from BCPS middle and high school students representing 11 schools. The films entertained and educated audiences with stories ranging from a comedic rivalry between race car drivers to a historical reenactment by toy soldiers. Other films explored the complexities of immigration, grief, and the panic surrounding the Dungeons and Dragons game.

Judges awarded prizes for first place and honorable mentions in various categories, including live action, stop motion, digital animation, and documentary.

The following films were selected by the judges for first place and honorable mention recognition:

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Live Action

• First Place: “Ride for a Cause” by Tristan Adelung, Cockeysville Middle School
• Honorable Mention: Trapped in a School” by Katriel Agnapan, Gianna Norton, and Kylie Appod, Perry Hall Middle School

Stop Motion

• First Place: “Operation: Survive” by Amy Isufi, Perry Hall Middle School
• Honorable Mention: “Plastic Platoon” by Marc Subido and Tyler Magboo, Perry Hall Middle
School

Digital Animation

• First Place: “Overgrown” by Jacob Scannell, Perry Hall Middle School
• Honorable Mention: “The 100% Real Story of an Emoji” by Brooks Dorsey, Ridgely Middle School

GIF

• First Place: “Episode 1” by Oyindamolami Aboyami-Esan, Perry Hall Middle School
• Honorable Mention: “A War’s Bonfire” by Anna Goddard, Perry Hall Middle School

HIGH SCHOOL

Experimental

• First Place: “Here to There” by Reine Concepcion, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and
Technology
• Honorable Mention: “Don’t Procrastinate” by Kevin Smotherman, Parkville High School

Short Form

• First Place: “Cultural Coalescence” by Mia Piazza, Eastern Technical High School
• Honorable Mention: “Cherish Memories” by Lyric Alvarez-Ibanez, Perry Hall High School

Animation

• First Place: “The Race” by Michael Palmer, Western School of Technology and Environmental
Science
• Honorable Mention: “Nihilism” by Madison Myers, Eastern Tech

Documentary

• First Place: “Her Story” by Ariana Sisomphone, Carver Center
• Honorable Mention: “D&D – The Satanic Panic” by Wyatt Dell, Hereford High School

Promotional

• First Place: “Flout’s Fluyts 2” by Noah Gray and Ryan Chen, Western Tech
• Honorable Mention: “Tell Them Your Truth” by Deric McGowan, Milford Mill Academy

Live Action

• First Place: “Leo and Luna” by Chloe Stringer, Amanda Wagner, and more, Carver Center
• Honorable Mention: “The Days After” by Rondell Gangadeen, Dulaney High School

GIF: Digital Animation

• First Place: “Late Night” by Henry England, Hereford High School
• Honorable Mention: “Blue vs. Red” by Enoch Agoro, Western Tech

GIF: Stop-Motion Animation

• First Place: “Molded Memories” by Autumn Shepke, Eastern Tech
• Honorable Mention: “You Are What You Eat” by Aiden Sullivan, Eastern Tech

GIF: Pixel Art

• First Place: “The Phoenix Tree” by Alexander Olive, Eastern Tech
• Honorable Mention: “Bad Apple” by Sadie Levi, Hereford High School

Judges for the 2025 competition were: Carroll Cook, visual artist and retired BCPS educator; Phil Davis,
professor, digital art and animation, Towson University; David Egan, film and television editor and BCPS
alumnus; Christopher Ernst, associate professor of film and moving image, Stevenson University; Vin
Grabill, associate professor, emeritus, cinematic arts, UMBC; Jamie Gross, film and television editor;
Chung Wei Huang, film director and professorial lecturer, American University; Daylan Jones, TV
producer, BCPS-TV; Steve Miller, artist and media professional; and Jeff Otradovec, director of video
production, The Sheffield Institute for the Recording Arts.

The 2025 Film Expo was sponsored by The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., Sheffield, and The Senator Theatre. The event was organized by a committee of BCPS educators and supported by the BCPS Office of Visual Arts, Department of Integrated Arts, and Department of Literacy and Humanities.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo: 2025 BCPS Film Expo Poster Contest, high school winner – Sarah Glazer, Pikesville High School

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