5-27-2026 4:50am

County Honors

21 films by students from 7 schools honored at 2026 BCPS Film Expo

Baltimore County Public Schools hosted its 2026 Film Expo on May 21 at Pikesville High School.

An enthusiastic audience of students, educators, and family and community members viewed finalist films created by BCPS middle and high school students. Varied and sophisticated animation styles and special effects dazzled viewers. Unique cinematography and soundtracks enhanced the stories being told. Among the many films were films about immigration, family ties, the death of a beloved pet, teen anxiety and depression that evoked deep emotions, and films about a house haunted by a drag queen and a midnight snack that assembles itself that elicited big laughs. PROGRAM HERE

The following films were selected by the judges for recognition:

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Animated GIF

Winner: “The Café” by Beatriz Villalobos-Ramos, Perry Hall Middle School
Honorable Mention: “Smoothie” by Arya Kumar, Ridgely Middle School

Digital Animation

Winner: “Midnight Snack” by Harriet Bylkas-Moore, Dumbarton Middle School
Honorable Mention: “Follow the Rabbit” by Chloe Biscoe, Perry Hall Middle School
Honorable Mention: “Ode to Blue” by Jayashree Karthic, Ridgely Middle School

Live Action

Winner: “Boo Bash” by Caelyn Appod and Alyssa Berger, Perry Hall Middle School
Honorable Mention: “Scary Stories to Tell in Drag” by Ash Sullivan, Perry Hall Middle School

HIGH SCHOOL

Animated GIF

Winner: “January is the Monday of the Year” by Chase Strickland, Hereford High School
Honorable Mention: “Static” by Jack Adams, Western School of Technology

Promotional

Winner: “Clay Spotlight” by Ethan Aznan, Parkville High School
Honorable Mention: “Drawbridge” by Ginikachukwu Igboom, Parkville High School

Short Form

Winner: “Ed and Lue” by Damon Artis, Eastern Technical High School
Honorable Mention: “Japan Trip” by Mia Piazza, Eastern Technical High School

Animation

Winner: “Mask of 1,000 Faces” by Aaliyah Cole, Parkville High School
Honorable Mention: “Pete” by Des (Emma) Hershfield, Hereford High School

Documentary

Winner: “The Misunderstood Immigrant” by Chinye Ezimako, Eastern Technical High School
Honorable Mention: “Shattered” by Leonah Sansuk, Eastern Technical High School

Experimental

Winner: “The Needing Seed” by Hannah Hong, Eastern Technical High School
Honorable Mention: “Wandering in New York” by Jolene Nguyen, Eastern Technical High School

Live Action

Winner: “Flout’s Fluyts 3” by Ryan Chen, Noah Gray, and Owen Gray, Western School of Technology
Honorable Mention: “Change” by Autumn Tiralla, Hereford High School

Judges for the 2026 competition were: Carroll Cook, visual artist and retired BCPS educator; Christopher Ernst, associate professor of film and moving image, Stevenson University, and independent filmmaker; Vin Grabill, associate professor emeritus, cinematic arts, UMBC; Chung Wei Huang, lecturer, UMBC, and film director; Daylan Jones, TV producer, BCPS-TV; Mateen Milan, coordinator of comprehensive arts education, Maryland State Department of Education; Steve Miller, artist and media professional; Jeff Otradovec, director of video production, The Sheffield Institute for the Recording Arts; and Rachel Valsing, resource teacher, Howard County Public Schools.

New to the Film Expo this year, The Sheffield Institute for the Recording Arts honored the makers of four films with awards and with a VIP portfolio review and mentorship session at its studios. The awards were presented by Otradovec to:

Des (Emma) Hershfield, Hereford High School – “Pete”
Chinye Eximako, Eastern Technical High School – “The Misunderstood Immigrant”
Hannah Hong, Eastern Technical High School – “The Needing Seed”
Ryan Chen, Noah Gray, and Owen Gray, Western School of Technology – “Flout’s Fluyts 3”

In addition, because Sheffield staff were so impressed, they invited all Film Expo finalists to submit their portfolios to Sheffield for a virtual review.

The 2026 Expo Committee was led by BCPS educators Joel Baldwin of Perry Hall Middle School and Sam Tillman of Hereford High School, with support from educators Jason Adelung of Western School of Technology, Becky Meiller of Eastern Technical High School, and artist Carroll Cook (a retired BCPS teacher).

The Film Expo was supported by a grant from The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. Other supporters include The Sheffield Institute for the Recording Arts and the BCPS offices of Integrated Arts and Career and Technical Education.