For Orange County School of the Arts senior Julian Maya, storytelling is a way to keep family memories and traditions alive.
Now, he’s creating opportunities for other young film students to do the same. Through the Rooted Film Festival, Julian hopes to bring students together to explore their identities and share personal experiences through filmmaking.
Orange County students were recognized for their impactful, peer-selected films on mental health through the first-ever Youth Choice Awards on May 1, a new student-led addition to the Directing Change Film Contest. Several of the winning films will move on to the statewide competition, amplifying youth voices and promoting awareness across California.
