Film Prize Junior wrapped its 2026 festival on April 26 with a record-breaking showing, marking the program’s third consecutive year of growth in both participation and attendance. The event, presented by the Prize Foundation as part of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council’s ArtBreak! Festival, brought together students, educators, and families from across Louisiana for a weekend centered on creativity, collaboration, and storytelling.

This year’s festival showcased 115 student-produced films from 64 schools across 17 school districts, including 31 Title I schools. Throughout the weekend, attendees filled screening venues to watch the films and cast votes for their favorites, culminating in a live-broadcasted awards ceremony that distributed more than $15,000 in cash prizes and media grants to participating schools.

Film Prize Junior gives middle and high school students the opportunity to explore filmmaking from start to finish, guiding them through screenwriting, production, and marketing. The program was created by Tobias Kallenberg, son of Film Prize founder Gregory Kallenberg, with the goal of encouraging students to engage in both the creative and entrepreneurial sides of filmmaking.

“Film Prize Junior is one of the most inspiring programs we host at the Prize Foundation,” said Gregory Kallenberg, Executive Director and Founder of the Prize Foundation and Co-Founder of Film Prize Junior. “Watching these kids activate their imagination and create a film is pretty amazing! We’re super proud of all the students and teachers who took on the Film Prize Junior challenge and saw their work on the big screen.”

Beyond film screenings, the festival featured hands-on and educational experiences designed to immerse students in the filmmaking process. Production Island, staffed by members of IATSE, the University of Louisiana Monroe, and local filmmakers, allowed students to work with professional-grade equipment. A red carpet celebration gave participants the chance to showcase their work, pose for photos, and take part in interviews.

Additional programming included a free filmmaking masterclass for Caddo Parish students and a film poster design contest with both juried and audience awards.

The awards ceremony drew a standing-room-only crowd as winners were announced across multiple categories. In the high school division, Last Shift from Louisiana School for Math, Science, & the Arts earned the Judges’ Choice Award, while Movement of Rhythm from Baton Rouge Magnet High took home the Audience Choice Award. In the middle school division, Sister For Sale from Viva Cristo Rey Homeschool won the Judges’ Choice Award, and The Talent Show Curse from Eden Gardens Fundamental Magnet received the Audience Choice honor.

Films were also recognized across genre categories, including animation, comedy, documentary, drama, sci-fi/fantasy, and thriller, highlighting the range of storytelling and technical skill demonstrated by students statewide. Poster design awards and Founder’s Circle grants further recognized standout work, while the Spirit of the Prize award honored teacher-producer Regina Duncan of Hammond Magnet High School for her leadership and dedication to students.

For those who missed the in-person event, the festival continues online with a Virtual Festival running from April 30 through May 7, giving the public another opportunity to view and vote on student films.

Festival Award Winners 2026

MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION WINNERS

Best Animation: How to Train Your Alligator — Young Audiences Charter School

Best Documentary: The Buccaneer Belles — Southside Junior High

Best Comedy: The Artifact — TH Harris Middle School

Best Drama: The Grade — Benton Intermediate

Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy: The Dream — Fairfield Elementary Magnet

Best Thriller: New Year’s Night — Big Three Academy

Audience Choice Best Film: The Talent Show Curse — Eden Gardens Fundamental Magnet

Grand Prize: Sister for Sale — Viva Cristo Rey Homeschool

Founder’s Circle (Middle School):

All Twisted Up — Allen Ellender

From Andi to AI — First Baptist Church School

Who Is It? — Haughton Middle School

The Peppermint Twist — Ruppel Academy Francaise

A World of Bricks — Southfield School

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION WINNERS

Best Animation: Xerxes — Central High School

Best Documentary: Echoes in the Classroom — Baton Rouge Magnet High

Best Comedy: Employee of the Month — West Ouachita High School

Best Drama (tie): Dock and Ashes — Caddo Magnet High School and Big Sis — Viva Cristo Rey Homeschool

Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy: About that Dream — Loyola College Prep

Best Thriller: STAR — Baton Rouge Magnet High

Audience Choice Best Film: Movement of Rhythm — Baton Rouge Magnet High

Grand Prize: Last Shift — Louisiana School for Math, Science & the Arts

Founder’s Circle (High School):

John Wish — Five Oaks Community School

Dear Diary — Mount Carmel Academy

The Hall — Plain Dealing High School

POSTER AWARDS

Best Poster — Audience Choice (Middle School): From Andi to AI — First Baptist Church School

Best Poster — Audience Choice (High School): The Test — Green Oaks & John Wish — Five Oaks Homeschool via AOC Community Media

Best Overall Film Poster (Judge’s Choice): Snack Street — Captain Shreve High School

SPIRIT OF THE PRIZE – Teacher-Producer Award

Regina Duncan — Hammond Magnet High School

Photos courtesy of Jeremy Hernandez/Prize Foundation.