S2N was held on May 7, 2026 in Beaverton with an awards ceremony at the Arts and Communications Magnet Academy (ACMA) theater. About 150 student projects were submitted by approximately 300 students at all three levels: elementary, middle and high school in these categories: animation, comedy, documentary, drama, and music video. For high school filmmakers, they could additionally submit for experimental filmmaking and win awards for best writing, acting, and directing. About 300 people attended the festival this year.
Experiential Learning in Action
This milestone year, S2N pushed the boundaries of hands-on learning by embedding students into every layer of production, mirroring real-world media pathways:
-
Production & Hosting: Sandeep, a student at the Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering (BASE), stepped into leadership as a co-host.
-
Graphic Design: Maddie (BASE) designed the official 2026 S2N festival logo, gaining real-world branding experience.
-
Motion Graphics: Twenty film students from Westview High School collaborated to create custom animated introductions for each award category.
-
Industry Judging: Film students from six high schools joined forces with local industry professionals to serve as official festival judges.
Why it Matters: Validating Young Creators
Thanks to community support, BEF helped upgrade the festival’s trophies and finalist pins this year. While it might seem like a small detail, these tangible markers of success left a massive impression. Winners described them as the “best trophies S2N has ever had,” serving as lasting artifacts that prove their creative work is deeply valued by their community.
By connecting students with professional judges from companies like KOIN-6, Galaxy Sailor Productions, Ghoul Capone Pictures, and Suckerbird Games, S2N bridges the gap between classroom learning and the creative economy.
