Staten
Over the summer, the Johnson County Public Library accepted submissions from students in the county for a teen film competition. The library wanted to create a space for aspiring young filmmakers to showcase their work and share their creativity with the community.
With that in mind, our teen librarians conceptualized Reel2Reel, and the competition was launched in 2024. This new program for teens is one that we hope can become an annual event.
On Oct. 3, the community is invited to the Historic Artcraft Theatre to view the winning submissions. That evening, you will have the opportunity to watch the winning film, honorable mentions, and the up-and-coming winner. Winners will be announced at the event and will receive their prizes that evening.
The event will begin at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30. The screening is open to anyone in the community. There is no charge for admission.
Students could submit films for video categories, including documentaries, music videos and short films. Each film was limited to a maximum run time of 15 minutes and had to be rated G or PG. Our judges looked at a variety of factors when determining a winner, including storytelling, originality, creativity and technical aspects like lighting and sound.
The overall winner of the competition will receive a $400 gift card, with three honorable mentions receiving $100. Up-and-coming filmmakers in grades 6 to8 will be awarded a $50 prize. The prizes were funded by generous donations to the Johnson County Public Library Foundation, which supports many of our fantastic library events.
Teen film competitions provide young filmmakers with a unique platform for creative expression and storytelling during a pivotal stage of their lives. We hope JCPL’s competitions will foster filmmaking skills in areas like writing, directing and editing while also encouraging collaboration and teamwork. Participating in these events boosts confidence as teens showcase their work and receive constructive feedback, which will help them grow as filmmakers. Teen film competitions serve as a vital springboard for aspiring filmmakers, opening doors to future opportunities and encouraging community engagement.
We hope you will join JCPL, the Historic Artcraft Theatre and our talented Johnson County aspiring filmmakers as we present their films on the big screen.
Kelly Staten is JCPL’s Programming Manager. JCPL staff members share in writing this twice-monthly column for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
