High Tide Film Festival 2023

September 12, 2023

This past June the winners of the high school student film contest were announced in the Honda Pacific Visions Theater at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Each entry had a choice of a category: ocean and food, ocean and sports, or ocean and culture. This festival was a special night with a red carpet rolled out and emcees from the Aquarium — Callum Watson, youth and family coordinator, and Alie LeBeau, director of STEM pathway initiatives. These filmmakers and storytellers showed how science and storytelling goes hand in hand.

“Science is inspired by stories. Science stories inspire people.” – Aquarium CEO/President Peter Kareiva

2023 High Tide Film Festival Winners

Ocean and Food Category

Gold Award
“Perfect Day at the Pier”
Olivia Lopez, Millikan High School, Grade 11

Silver Award
“Crustacean Conservation”
Colin Das, Oxford Academy, Grade 9
Landon Das, Sato Academy, Grade 11

Bronze Award
“Fish are Friends, and Food”
Allison Phipps, Serrano High School, Grade 10

Ocean and Sports Category

Gold Award
“Legacy”
Rocco Leoncio, Cerritos High School, Grade 11

Silver Award
“Peace Within water”
Jordan Bui, Marina High School, Grade 11
Anson Dinh, Marina High School, Grade 12
Keanu McGuire, Marina High School, Grade 10

Bronze Award
“Saltwater Sorrow”
Nadine Nguyen, Westminster High School, Grade 11
Kathy Tran, Westminster High School, Grade 11

Ocean and Culture Category

Gold Award
“Born From Waves”
Sophia Le, Westminster High School, Grade 11

Silver Award
“The Whale Shark: A Cultural Giant”
Liam Wright, South Pasadena High School, Grade 12

Bronze Award
“Tidal Bonds”
Shijoon Bae, Orange County High School for the Arts, Grade 10
Micah Lai, Orange County High School for the Arts, Grade 10
Timothy Okajima, Orange County High School for the Arts, Grade 10
John Rosenberg, Orange County High School for the Arts, Grade 10