LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – Hosted by the Bay Theater in Seal Beach on June 7, the first annual LAHS film festival established why there’s an increasing excitement surrounding the LAHS film department and other local student filmmakers. Fresh off the debut of their daring works premiered at the theater, the students of all ages behind this year’s grand event left no stone unturned in an epic series of short films, music videos and advertisements.
Revisiting themes like adolescent angst, horror, and friendship, the short films presented during the night certainly did so with humor and a knack for capturing the audience’s attention with hilarious acting and sentimental messages. The various student-made short films, with their original acting and perspectives, represent how filmmaking rapidly evolves as students from both the LAHS film department and in their own homes continue to move from beginners to professionals.
“This was the most amazing thing I’ve ever been a part of – to have the students work so hard all year and then get to present it here at the Bay Theater in front of friends, family and the community. We filled this place up (and) pretty much sold out,” director and teacher of the LAHS film department, Mr. Brown, said.
Paying homage to the triumphs of independent cinema, the LAHS film festival featured questionnaires followed by acknowledgements at the end of each short film; these included “World Undead 2: Depths of Darkness” directed by middle school student Jack Standlea, the main film of the night, “Free Trial”, directed by recent LAHS graduate Abby Zidonis and “Blue Skies,” directed by Matthew Griffith with LAHS alumni.
“I was blown away with the production value that the middle schoolers have, and I can’t wait for them to get to high school and get them trained up even more. But really, I was just glad to showcase a lot of students. There are the seniors who are graduating, and they’re obviously very advanced, but there are some who are freshmen who are just starting out. And while their work might not be as good as the seniors, they’re on a great path. By the time they become seniors, their work is going to be just as good, if not better,” Mr. Brown said.
The thrill of committing to a project such as “Free Trial”, where co-writers Joey Ito and Abby Zidonis attempted to replicate many of the themes in “Project X”, ultimately gave way to an unpredictable and impressive plotline. The classic “naive outcast” story suddenly transforming into a cult comedy certainly took the audience through an intense and amusing experience.
“As someone who used to be a student at LAHS and heavily involved in the film program, I find it inspiring, and it fills me with a lot of admiration to be able to watch people younger than me make these projects that I probably couldn’t create at their age. ‘Free Trial’ was absolutely hysterical. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but the script and actors turned out amazing, it was hysterical!” LAHS alumni and film festival attendee, Sofia Youngs, said.
Drawing from a wide range of voices, the mental health film segment challenged contemporary issues such as body image, depression, burnout and belonging. These short films were composed by various LAHS film students during the 2024-25 school year, as part of an opportunity to enter a mental health commercial contest for Orange County.
Each film from the mental health segment played out like nostalgic memoirs, providing the audience a deeper look into the confused, complicated and conflicted world of being a teenager in today’s world. More than just artful advocations, the somber films reminded their creators and viewers alike of the importance of collective caring, of keeping each other aware of the overlooked issues in society.
At the end of the two-hour showcase, the film festival concluded with a screening of “Blue Skies” and a questionnaire with its producers. Humblemaker Coffee Company welcomed guests afterwards to indulge in free coffee and a collection of the LAHS Film Department’s clothing supply.
“I thought it was interesting to see different projects made by various people. With “Free Trial”, I thought Joey did a great job writing it. I was especially impressed with the middle schoolers’ “World Undead 2: Depths of Darkness” film,” 2025 LAHS graduate and film festival attendee, Thomas Curd, said.
Ultimately, with their first-ever film festival hosted by the Bay Theater, the LAHS film department continues to diversify their playing field in publicity and creation alike.
