Aquarium of the Pacific Announces Winners of Its High Tide Student Film Festival

May 5, 2025

The Aquarium of the Pacific is announcing the winners of its fifth annual High Tide Student Film Festival. The festival, presented by Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg, encourages Southern California students in ninth to twelfth grade to explore the ocean, science, and conservation through creative visual storytelling. Individuals or small teams of up to four participants submitted videos up to three minutes long on one of three topics: Marine Species and Habitats, Ocean Celebrities, and Fish Tales. Cash prizes were awarded to winners: $2,000 for the Gold Award, $1,500 for the Silver Award, $1,000 for the Bronze Award, and $500 in different categories for Honorable Mention and Staff Pick. The invitation-only event took place on May 1 at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. Below are the winners by category, including the overall winners.

High Tide Student Film Festival Overall Contest Winners

Gold: (After) Life of a Whale

• By Mia dos Santos (11th grade) from Sato Academy of Math & Science (Long Beach, CA)

Silver: The Needlefish

• By Tommy Houng (12th grade) from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (Rolling Hills Estates, CA)
• By Oliver Raley (10th grade) from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (Rolling Hills Estates, CA)

Bronze: Legacy of the Shark

• By Braden Mosteig (10th grade) from Long Beach Polytechnic High School (Long Beach, CA)

Film Category: Fish Tales

Best in Category: The Untouchables

• By Xochil Soto Ryan (12th grade) from Long Beach Polytechnic High School (Long Beach, CA)

Staff Pick: Surf Curse

• By Preston Jun (11th grade) from Los Alamitos High School (Los Alamitos, CA)
• By Kaeven Price (11th grade) from Los Alamitos High School (Los Alamitos, CA)

Honorable Mention: Ocean's Cry

• By Landon Lockwood (12th grade) from Legacy Magnet Academy in Tustin (Tustin, CA)
• By Veronica Rivera (12th grade) from University High School in Irvine (Irvine, CA)

Film Category: Marine Species and Habitats

Best in Category: Manta Rays: Angels of the Sea

• By Allegra Wright (9th grade) from South Pasadena High School (South Pasadena, CA)

Staff Pick: Fishbone

• By Bryan Arteaga (11th grade) from Jordan High School (Long Beach, CA)
• By Jennifer Cardenas Vidal (12th grade) from Jordan High School (Long Beach, CA)
• By Emily Raya (11th grade) from Jordan High School (Long Beach, CA)
• By Keeree Sross (11th grade) from Jordan High School (Long Beach, CA)

Honorable Mention: Tales of Living Stones

• By Gianna Zhang (12th grade) from Granada Hills Charter High School (Granada Hills, CA)

Film Category: Ocean Celebrities

Best in Category: Splashes and Swims: Story of the Short-Beaked Common Dolphin

• By Miranda Fang (11th grade) from San Marino High School (San Marino, CA)

Honorable Mention: The Importance of Being Green

• By Dexter Draggoo (9th grade) from Ernest S. McBride High School (Long Beach, CA)
• By Oliver Hamilton (9th grade) from Millikan High School (Long Beach, CA)

SPONSORS: Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg