FOCUS on IMPACT
STUDENT ART COMPETITION & EXHIBIT
The San Diego’s Intl Film Festival’s FOCUS on Impact Education Program provides a forum for high school and college students to explore a variety of complex social issues with screenings of short films, curated curriculum and interviews with filmmakers.
Our second annual FOCUS on Impact Student Art Competition & Exhibit challenges students to create artwork designed to raise awareness of social impact issues such as inclusion, equality, cultural identity, climate change, pollution (ocean, land, thermal, plastic, soil), autism, immigration and refugee issues.
We have carefully selected a limited number of middle and high schools in the county to take part in our program with our aim to gradually increase the scope of this initiative. This program will showcase the innovative and analytical abilities of students who have pursued visual arts education.
Student Recognitions
One student submission will be selected to be used together with the San Diego Intl Film Festival logo for the 2025 marketing campaign. The winning submission will be used on Film Festival merchandise that will be sold during the Film Festival with profits benefiting the FOCUS on Impact Educational Program. All finalists will be invited to attend the 2025 San Diego International Film Festival.
Student Eligibility
Original works are eligible to submit all two-dimensional media (traditional and digital) for consideration.
Work must be submitted digitally for evaluation and may be completely image-based or a combination of text and image.
CRITERIA
Submitted works will be evaluated by SDSCPA educators
and the SDiFF Leadership Team.
Works will be evaluated on the following criteria:
1) Level of connection to Exhibit Focus
2) Level of craft demonstrated
3) Level of creativity demonstrated.
2025 DEADLINES
May 30, 2025 – Submissions and forms due
June 1-15, 2025 – Evaluation period
June 16, 2025 – Selected students notified
July 17, 2025 – Finalists revealed at Film Insider Series August screening
August 21, 2025 – Winning artwork showcased at Film Insider Series screening
FORMS
TEACHERS
A variety of SDUSD Critical Concepts and Learning Targets can be addressed in the visual arts curriculum when students are developing ideas and creative works for this challenge. See below for examples.
7.AMP1—Develop and apply methods and criteria to meet goals
Prof.AMP2—Apply relevant criteria to examine and revise works of art and design in progress
Prof.AME1—Investigate and respond to an aspect of everyday life using contemporary art and design practices
Acc.AME1—Redesign or design in response to contemporary issues
Acc.AME2—Use inquiry methods to investigate unfamiliar subjects through artmaking
2024 Art Competition
2024 WINNER
ART TITLE: Analogous (Body Dysmorphia)
MEDIUM: Digital drawing and collage
ARTIST/STUDENT: Jas Soto
Grade: 8
School: San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts
Teacher: Don Masse
STUDENT STATEMENT
This art explores the challenges of body dysmorphia, inspired by the unrealistic beauty standards spread by social media. This digital artwork was created using an iPad. The artist began by sketching their ideas and creating the line art in ibis Paint X. They then added color, contrast, and flowers to make the drawing stand out using Adobe Express.
Listen to Tonya Mantooth speak to the 2024 winner Jas Soto and Don Masse, Teacher at SDSCPA, during the Festival’s 2025 August Film Insider’s Screening.
Contributions in the form of donations and sponsorships, along with proceeds from festival events, are pivotal in expanding our educational outreach and nurturing local communities. Your generous support enables us to fulfill our mission of empowering future leaders to effect positive change in society.
The San Diego International Film Festival’s FOCUS on Impact Education Program is offered to teachers and schools at no cost. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous contributions.
