Ballard High School students have the talent to produce videos and they are receiving the recognition for the quality of their work.

Three video productions by Ballard students won awards in the 30th Annual Young People’s Film and Video Festival organized by the Northwest Film Center in Portland on July 16.

“They pick the work that is best and put it in a showcase,” said teacher Matt Lawrence. The showcase screenings were held at the Portland Art Museum.

Students Coburn Erskine, Becca Rice, Devan Sizemore and George Westberg collaborated on “Bittersweet,” a short narrative about how a contagious bad mood spreads among people.

Madison Murphy, who is known for her theatre work, was as a teaching assistant in the school’s special education program this past year. She became inspired to do a film and worked with Clayton Brendan and Jenna Gregor on “Special Successes.”

Lawrence said many students don’t know about the special education program in their own school. “Madison felt it was an important and amazing program. She won over other students to do it. They worked as a unit,” said Lawrence.

Students are starting to choose complex subjects for their videos. “I’m always surprised what they come up with,” said Lawrence.

The competition in Portland was demanding. It was regional, representing Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Utah. All the submissions were judged for storytelling, originality, artistic merit, technical achievement and investigation of subject matter. The jurors were educators and film professionals.

“Ave Rats,” a video on homeless teenagers in the University District won the grand prize in Temple University’s 10th Annual Derek Freese High School Film and Video Festival in June. It was produced by Clinton Carucci, Ian McKagen and Mixtli Zavaleta. The students won $500 and said they would split the money with the homeless teens they interviewed.

In the Northwest High School Film Festival also held in June, Ballard won 20 awards and honors. They won 11 top prizes (Awards of Excellence) and nine honorable mentions.

“You don’t hear that much about young people doing complex film projects. It gives me hope to see young people with these kinds of concerns,” said Lawrence.