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Heritage High School student Alina Ibarra accomplished a major feat this week when it was announced she won first place in the county and the state in a film competition. She received her county award at the Fox Theater in Riverside and will receive her state award at the United Theater in Los Angeles on May 21.
The Directing Change film competition is designed to bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention efforts among youth. Alina, accompanied by her peers, accepted the first-place award in the Through the Lens of Culture category. The program included the showing of her film, as well as films produced by other Heritage High students who received Honorable Mention awards.
In addition, student Maylin Sanders presented the award in the Hope and Justic category. She was a county and statewide winner last year.
“In the Through the Lens of Culture category, students bring to light how their own cultural identities and norms affect their mental health,” wrote Nicholis Kalantar, video production teacher and media arts advisor at Heritage. “Alina’s artistry in bringing awareness, while connecting it to her family and past, definitely shined through in an engaging way to bring about her message.”
Alina’s video is entitled “Echale Ganas” (“Put some effort into it”).
