6th Annual Santa Monica Teen Film Festival

Ladies and gentlemen, the results are IN!

This year's Santa Monica Teen Film Festival was a great success! Over 80 films were submitted, and 28 films were screened on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday May 1. On Saturday evening, we screened 12 films at the Miles Memorial Playhouse and on Sunday afternoon we screend 16 films at the Santa Monica Main Library, MLK Jr. Auditorium. After this screening, we announced the winners. Two awards for Audience Choice (one on Saturday and one on Sunday) were determined by popular vote. A panel of industry professionals and teens determined the winners by category.

CLICK HERE to check out photos from this year's Festival!

And the winners are:

Best of the Fest, 1^st place
Paris is Burning by Carolina Vazquez

Best of the Fest, 2^nd place
Bubble by Caleb Jaffe

Santa Monica Budding Filmmaker Award
Myles Blackwell (Mercy)

Best Documentary
Scotty’s Lantern by Samuel Bruce and Genevieve Ward

Best Animation
Bubble by Caleb Jaffe

Best Experimental/Music Video
Paris is Burning by Carolina Vazquez

Audience Choice Award, Saturday
Coin by Blake Simon

Audience Choice Award, Sunday
Dinner Time by Lisa Parker

A Little Flash...a little mob...

This past weekend Santa Monica teens (and kids and adults!) participated in a dance flash mob in the middle of the library! Coordinated by the Teen Advisory Council, teens learned dance steps from local choreographer Christine Suarez a few hours before the mob. Everyone had a great time dancing around the library!

View Flash Mob pictures on SMPL's Facebook Page HERE

And don't forget to "Like" us on Facebook and "Follow us" on Twitter!

Librarian Picks

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

In America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota--and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it's worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life. . . .

Winner of the 2011 Michael L. Printz Award for Young Adult Literature, this adventure story grabs you from the first chapter and never lets go!

Teen Review: Ever After Ever

Ever After Ever by Jordan Sonnenblick
Jeff and Tad are two boys who had cancer at a very young age but still have a large amount of nerve damage. For Jeff it's the idea of memorizing things in math, and for Tad it's the abilitiy to walk. So, when a new girl named Lindsey comes to the school and takes interest in Jeff things start to change. She makes a deal to help them overcome their after effects of cancer in preparation for graduation. This competition keeps them trying and trying until a plot twist occurs.

This book has a sense of sensitivity that can make you either cry or laugh. The specific details help you understand more about plot and characters.

Reviewed by Ishani G., Teen Volunteer

Check it Out! New Books

Librarian Picks

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The third and final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy has Katniss once again fighting for her life, as well as the lives of the people she loves. After barely surviving TWO Games, Katniss must now decide whether she will support the growing rebellion against the Capitol. The stakes are much higher, and so many lives are on the line. Will Katniss make the right decision?

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Finn has been imprisoned in Incarceron since he can remember, but discovers a key that can connect him to the "outside" world. When Claudia, the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, finds a similar key and begins to communicate with Finn, both of their worlds are turned upside down. Now, Claudia knows she has to get Finn out of Incarceron, but how? Especially when both learn that the actual prison of Incarceron is alive...