Future Voices Festival 2021

Congratulations to all of the 2021 Future Voices Festival film and photography winners!

Lensic Future Voices encourages middle and high school students across New Mexico to tell their stories through original photographs and short films. Guided by a team of industry experts, The Lensic provides students with the support they need to create high-quality projects that are judged in monthly contests and a year-end competition, all with cash prizes.

The 2021 Future Voices Festival was the 14th annual celebration of the top films and photographs (along with their talented creators) from our Lensic Future Voices year-end competition. In pre-pandemic times, students gathered at the Lensic for the festival and awards ceremony, but in 2021, it was held virtually, as it was in 2020. New Mexico students from nine schools submitted 28 three-minute films and 169 photos for the competition. Our panel of expert judges reviewed them all and selected the top entries in a variety of categories. We proudly present those winning films and photos below.

Please support Lensic Future Voices! This Lensic education program is funded by contributions from the community. Your tax-deductible donation encourages a new generation of creativity and self-expression, and plays an important role in the future of performing arts. To donate, please visit our Education Programs donation page. We appreciate your support.

Watch the Award-Winning Films

Watch Now

Film Still from “A Silent Dream’s Journey” by Lucas Griego / Public Academy for Performing Arts

Watch the award-winning three-minute films from this year’s Future Voices Festival!

Our 2021 Future Voices Film Winners

Animation

First Place:  “A Silent Dream’s Journey,”  Lucas Griego, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Second Place: “Dream Killer,” Xavier Pecastaing, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Third Place: “What Lies Within Our Dreams,” Gretchen Westphal, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Comedy

First Place: “Catching Bigfoot,”  Hanah Cowles, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Second Place: “Emotionless Color,” Finnegan McKelvey, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Third Place: “My Life as a Robot,”  Orion Swallows, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Experimental

First Place: “Blanket,” Cruz Davis-Martinez, New Mexico School for the Arts

Second Place: “Project Dystopia,” Mosiah Silent Walker, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Third Place:  “What We See When We Dream,”  Ethan Woodall, Public Academy for Performing Arts

 

Narrative

First Place: “Plastic Nightmare,” Jude Smith-Van Winkle, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Second Place: “Dream World,” Brielle Nagyvary, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Third Place: “M.A.D.,”  Akira Braga, Public Academy for Performing Arts

 

See the Award-Winning Photos

Watch Now

Photo: Samantha Trujillo / New Mexico School for the Arts, Santa Fe

View this year’s winning photographs in this photo reel.

Our 2021 Future Voices Photography Winners

Animals

First Place: Lauren Mudge, Mandela International Magnet School

Second Place: Robin Ratcliff, Santa Fe Prep

Third Place: Veronica Silva, New Mexico School for the Arts

Honorable Mention: Hope Trujillo, Mandela International Magnet School

Architecture

First Place: Maya Stolz, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Second Place: Everett Raucci, Media Arts Collaborative Charter School

Third Place: Destiny Ruiz, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Honorable Mention: Erin Meehan, Media Arts Collaborative Charter School

 

Black and White

First Place: Fernando Pizano, New Mexico School for the Arts

Second Place: Marcus Crockett, Mandela International Magnet School

Third Place: Collin Alsop, Santa Fe Prep

Honorable Mention: Jadyn Taylor, Mandela International Magnet School

 

Color

First Place: Samantha Trujillo, New Mexico School for the Arts

Second Place: Nandita Ganesan, Santa Fe Prep

Third Place: Jayden Garcia, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Honorable Mention: Ella Seckler, New Mexico School for the Arts

 

Humor

First Place: Caroline Moore, Santa Fe Prep

Second Place: Mitchell Grover, Santa Fe Prep

Third Place: Emily Malvig, Mandela International Magnet School

Honorable Mention: Marcus Crockett, Mandela International Magnet School

Landscape

First Place: Jesse Merchant, Mandela International Magnet School

Second Place: Samuel Johnston, New Mexico School for the Arts

Third Place: Andrew Smith, Santa Fe Prep

Honorable Mention: Sasha Masek, Media Arts Collaborative Charter School

Manipulated

First Place: Genesi Sedillo, New Mexico School for the Arts

Second Place: Nat Colon, Media Arts Collaborative Charter School

Third Place: Martin Bechtel, Mandela International Magnet School

Honorable Mention: Allani Jiron, Taos High School

Most Original

First Place: Exxie Putney, Mandela International Magnet School

Second Place: Samantha Trujillo, New Mexico School for the Arts

Third Place: Megan Odom, Mandela International Magnet School

Honorable Mention: Nandita Ganesan, Santa Fe Prep

 

Portrait

First Place: Clara Hansen Munro, Media Arts Collaborative Charter School

Second Place: Joaquin Bas, Santa Fe Prep

Third Place: Jadyn Taylor, Mandela International Magnet School

Honorable Mention: Colbie Boyd, Media Arts Collaborative Charter School

 

Street

First Place: Estrella Ortiz, Santa Fe Prep

Second Place: Elise Lopez, Public Academy for Performing Arts

Third Place: Bayan Khweis, Taos High School

Honorable Mention: Maya Stolz, Public Academy for Performing Arts

 

Special Thanks

A huge thank you to the dedicated team that makes the Future Voices Festival happen each year!

  • Marcella Ernst, Future Voices Program Manager
  • Reid Callanan and Santa Fe Photographic Workshops
  • Jonathan Lowe and Video Magic

Thanks to ALL of the students and teachers who participate in the Future Voices Festival and our monthly photo and film contests.