The curtain has closed on another unforgettable year at the Northwest High School Film Festival, and once again, students from Shorewood and Shorecrest High Schools took center stage—leaving an indelible mark on the region’s premier showcase for young filmmakers.

The festival, now in its 20th year, brought together aspiring student creatives from 25 high schools across the Puget Sound area. With over 40 industry professionals judging entries across 12 genre categories, only the best of the best earn the coveted Awards of Excellence—with just three winners per category. Honorable Mentions are also awarded to recognize outstanding creativity and technical skill.

For Shoreline’s film students, the accolades were exceptional.

Shorewood: Leading the Pack

Shorewood High School, under the direction of video production teacher Marty Ballew, emerged as the top-awarded school at this year’s festival, earning more Awards of Excellence than any other participating school, along with multiple Honorable Mentions.

The standout of the festival was Osiris Chacona, who won three of the total thirty-six Awards of Excellence—the most of any student at the event. His award-winning films included:

• The Magical Singing Puppet (Comedic Narrative)
   
• Film Club Video Bulletin (Commercial)
   
• Magic Video (Horror Suspense)
   

Osiris also received an Honorable Mention for SEA-TV: End of Year Video (Comedic Narrative). His collaborators Campbell Hamilton, Maggie Norberg, and 2024 graduate Finn deLaChappelle were key contributors to these projects and shared in the celebration of their success.

In addition, Zach Viau earned an Award of Excellence for his visually stunning music video, Ghost Driver.
An Honorable Mention was awarded to Reese Davison, Coren Murphy, Eloise Reinhardt, and Grace Halloran for their impressive claymation short, Laundry Matt.

These honors reflect not only talent but the dedication, teamwork, and creative resilience of Shorewood’s film students—qualities nurtured throughout the school year and supported by a strong arts-focused community.

Shorecrest: A Legacy of Excellence

Not to be outdone, Shorecrest High School students also made a strong showing at the festival. Under the guidance of teacher Trent Mitchell, several students received top honors:

• Justice Maldonado took home two Awards of Excellence and an Honorable Mention, bringing his career total to six awards—tying the all-time festival record.
   
• Harrison Todd earned one Award of Excellence and two Honorable Mentions.
   
• Dylan Bautista was recognized with an Honorable Mention for his suspense film.
   

Shorecrest was also represented on stage by students Helen Mortimer, Kylee Mitchell, Mateo Stevens, and Caden Diaz, who served as emcees for the event—adding energy and professionalism to the celebration.

A Shared Triumph

Whether earning top prizes or cheering for classmates, Shorewood and Shorecrest students demonstrated that creativity, collaboration, and storytelling thrive in Shoreline. For participants whose films won a coveted Award of Excellence, seeing their film title unexpectedly appear on the big screen was a moment of pure magic—one that will resonate for years to come.

As Shorewood teacher and event organizer Marty Ballew reflected:

“What makes the event truly special is that none of the student filmmakers know whether their films have been chosen until their titles appear, and suddenly, triumphantly it appears on the big screen. The joy on their faces in that moment is so unforgettable and impactful. And when those names and titles belong to Shorewood students, it becomes a moment I’ll carry with me forever.”

Thanks to supportive educators, families, and community members who uplift these students, Shoreline continues to be a hub for the next generation of filmmakers. These achievements belong to the entire community—and are a powerful reminder of the value of arts education in our schools.

Congratulations to all the talented filmmakers of Shorewood and Shorecrest!