MEDIA ADVISORY
Inaugural Roosevelt International Film Festival Offers Middle Schoolers Unique Experience in Filmmaking, Storytelling, and Media Production
WHAT: Film Festival featuring San Diego Unified School District Students
WHEN: Tonight, Wednesday, May 28, 2025
5:30 p.m. Red Carpet & Refreshments
6:30 p.m. Screening & Live Music
7:30 p.m. Award Ceremony
WHERE: Roosevelt International Middle School, 3366 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92103
WHY: Roosevelt International Middle School celebrates its inaugural Roosevelt International Film Festival (RIFF) featuring original short films from 24 student filmmakers. Film genres include narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, and music video. While the films included in the festival come largely from English and Music classes, the grant that supports this initiative provides media arts resources and support across all grade levels and content areas, ensuring all students benefit from enhanced creative opportunities. The red carpet event includes jury-awarded prizes, live musical performances by the Roosevelt student rock band, and a professional awards ceremony showcasing student creativity and authentic career exploration in media arts.
Standout works include:
- "Tijuana Sewage Crisis" by eighth-grader River Neddenriep (Link to Video)
- "Ghosts In High Spirits" by sixth-grader Grayson Chin-Blakey, nominated for the prestigious iVie Award—a major San Diego County-wide K-12 student video competition involving 3,500 students annually(Link to Video)
- Event Flyer
Roosevelt is a designated International Baccalaureate (IB) magnet school, where students create content through the IB lens of global citizenship and inquiry. The International Baccalaureate program emphasizes critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and respect for diverse perspectives. The school's focus on media arts is supported by a grant. Roosevelt has built media arts opportunities in 7th and 8th grade English classes and Digital Music. Students gain hands-on experience in film production, event management, marketing, communications, and technical arts, preparing them for 21st-century careers while fostering global perspectives.
SPEAKERS AVAILABLE:
- River Neddenriep, student filmmaker ("Tijuana Sewage Crisis")
- Grayson Chin-Blakey, student filmmaker and iVie Award nominee ("Ghosts In High Spirits")
- Bernard Steinberger, Roosevelt International Middle School principal
- Barbara Smith, Digital Music Teacher, RIFF Coordinator
- Student festival organizers and jury members
VISUAL OPPORTUNITIES: Red carpet arrivals and photo opportunities, film screening highlights, awards ceremony coverage, behind-the-scenes festival preparation, student rock band performance with mockumentary premiere, and documentation of media arts integration across English and Digital Music classes.
On-Site Contact: Barbara Smith, RIFF Coordinator & Digital Music Teacher, 312-550-5918
Media Contact: James Canning, jcanning@sandi.net, 313-580-2845 or Mike Murad, mmurad@sandi.net, 619-925-4790
James Canning (He/Him)
Executive Director, Strategic Communications & Information
San Diego Unified School District
jcanning@sandi.net | www.sandiegounified.org
Mobile Phone: 313-580-2845
4100 Normal Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Note: I may send and respond to emails outside of my normal workday or workweek. Please do not feel obligated to reply outside of your normal work schedule. Thank you.
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