For 15 years, students of all ages across Canyons School District have competed in the annual CSDtv Film Festival. Each festival entry is directed, acted, and produced by a student or teacher, from documentaries and shorts to podcasts and stop-motion creations. One winner comes out on top in each age bracket and category.
This year was the first year students at Entrada High School chose to compete in the film festival, which drew 242 entries from 610 contestants. Not only did they excel, they won the category of High School Documentary.
“I didn’t think we were going to win. It’s so cool that we won, especially with the whole process we went through,” says Michelle Nolaca, one of the student directors of, “Students of Entrada – Voices of Tomorrow.”
Production for the film began long before students even picked up a camera and shouted, “action!” At the beginning of the school year, Entrada teacher Baylee Riley applied for an Innovation Grant through the Canyons Education Foundation.
“Back in September, I started meticulously planning out what I wanted to do with this project,” says Riley. “Assistant Principal Mark Mataya and I had a conversation about what we wanted this class to be, we had a vision of what we could possibly submit for the film festival.”
Soon after, Riley and her students were surprised by the Canyons Education Foundation Board along with a $6,000 grant to purchase the film equipment for the class. Riley says it was everything she could wish for to be able to provide the equipment for her students. Without the support of the Foundation, she says, their film never would have been realized.
As soon as the school year began, students got to work deciding what story they wanted to tell. Riley prompted students consider what they had in common. “They all have different stories about how they ended up at Entrada,” she says, “but they all pursued their education, and all are persevering and pushing on, which is super honorable.”
The students decided to tell their own stories, interviewing their fellow classmates and while they found similarities, they discovered everyone’s path to Entrada was singular.
“We were trying to depict their stories, and the obstacles people had to hop over to get through, to get here to this high school and to be motivated enough to learn and grow for their life,” says Jackson Stephens, one of the student directors.
The film portrays Entrada students sharing how the school’s faculty and staff have helped them to succeed, while portraying the welcoming atmosphere throughout the school. They also speak with teachers, Assistant Principal Mataya, and Stephanie Patton, the Adult Education Director with the Utah State Board of Education.
“Entrada’s documentary checked all of the boxes for the judges,” says Justin Andersen, CSDtv Specialist. “The students not only focused on a variety of perspectives from both inside the school and out of it, but they also showed you what a day in the life of an Entrada student looks like while connecting the viewer with the students on a personal level.”
The High School Documentary category was the second largest category in this year’s film festival. Students say they were surprised and excited when they announced their film as the winner. It’s one of many aspects of the project they will take with them.
For lead actor, Isileli Lao, Riley’s class and making the film has inspired him to return to making video blogs like he used to in elementary school, saying he’s been inspired to be himself.
“Having the opportunity to work with the equipment was great, but I also don’t feel as alone knowing other people are also here with struggles and I’m not the only one,” says Nolaca.
You can watch “Students of Entrada – Voices of Tomorrow” here.
