Film fest - topper
The White House Student Film Festival 2016 Finalists:
"The World I Want to Live in"
This summer, we invited students from all across the country to submit their submissions for the third annual White House Student Film Festival, themed “The World I Want To Live In.” We wanted today’s youth to tell us what they hoped the future would hold for us — Sci-fi lasers? Flying cars? Yourself as President? — in the form of a short film.
We received thousands of nominations — documentaries, animations, and live animation films alike — depicting all kinds of imagined worlds. Strikingly, few submissions envisioned a technology-driven, science-fiction-esque future. Rather, it seems that this generation of youth are inspired by something much more simple: the dream of a more tolerant, more fair, more environmentally-friendly world. One that is widely inclusive, and contains rich opportunities of access for all.
That’s definitely the kind of world we’d want to live in.
Check out a selection of our 15 finalists, which will be screening as part of our South by South Lawn Festival.
Read more about the filmmakers.
Relive the festival
Finalists
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_educationforher.jpg)
LEGO: “Education For Her”
Directed by William Thomason
A charming, stop-motion Lego animation describing the story of a young woman whose life was changed for the better by Let Girls Learn — and the mission of equal access to education for all.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_takashitanemori.jpg)
Takashi Tanemori — The World I Want to Live In
Directed by Jason Cordis
Takashi Tanemori reflects on his experience as a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing — and how it has helped shape his outlook of the world and our future.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_theworldiwanttolivein_breannepitt.jpg)
The World I Want To Live In
Directed by Breanne Pitt, Kayleigh Hendy, Roxanne Edel, Lydia Hagen, Sierra Wilson
A satirical news broadcast that takes place at an indeterminate point in the future reveals some significant — and humorous — ways our world has changed.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_aworldthatexists.jpg)
A World That Exists
Directed by Sophia Tomlinson, Sofia Derk
A tough first day at a new school teaches a nine-year-old girl an important lesson about the type of world she wants to live in.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_adadsletter.jpg)
A Dad's Letter
Directed by Catherine McCord
A dad’s letter to his son shares memories of their lives together — and his hopes for how his son will be able to create a better future.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_throughmyeyes.jpg)
Through My Eyes
Directed by Nurnashrah Hana Mohd Reza, Anissa Safiyya Mohd Reza
A young girl who, quite literally, dreams up the perfect world for herself — one in which she is accepted, without prejudice, by everybody around her.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_awalk.jpg)
A Walk
Directed by Sara Hills, Johnathan James Abrolat, Ira Kailen Clark, Christian Aaron Settles
A young man goes for a walk through his hometown neighborhood, reflecting on his hopes for a cleaner, greener world.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_theworldiwanttolivein_xavierjameswhite.jpg)
The World I Want To Live In
Directed by Xavier James White, Miguel Padilla Quicho
A young boy reflects on the simple changes that could make his life — and the world at large — better for all of us. First on his list: more time with his family.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_aworldwithoutracism.jpg)
A World Without Racism
Directed by Mackie Mallison, Finnigan Hawley-Blue, Khiarica Rasheed, Dylan Palmer
A powerful, spoken-word meditation on creating a world without racism.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_changes.jpg)
Changes
Directed by Jane Brandt
Two best friends realize on how their conceptions of an ideal world have changed over the course of a lifetime of friendship — and that they will always accept each other.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_aworldfilledwithlove.jpg)
A World Filled With LOVE
Directed by Ezra Anteneh, Mateos Anteneh, Noelle Anteneh, Ashey Anteneh
A family gathering over pizza turns into a mission to do good.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_powerofapen.jpg)
The Power of a Pen
Directed by Jeeyoon Lee
An animated reflection on the importance of equal education and opportunity.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_theworldiwanttolivein_quinnholmes.jpg)
The World I Want To Live In
Directed by Quinn Holmes
A narrated collage of footage from in-and-around the streets of New York, reflecting on the importance of shaping a more tolerant and friendly world.
Honorable Mentions
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_timeforchange.jpg)
Time For Change
Directed by Leanne Elizabeth Caldejon, Angel Marie Velasquez, Jevonne JaLaarl Davis
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_doors.jpg)
Doors
Directed by Sophie Huang
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_wishingforadifferentpresent.jpg)
Wishing For A Different Present
Directed by Stephanie Dong, Jessie May Chen, Alan Israel Ruiz Cantu
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_roadtounity.jpg)
Road To Unity
Directed by Fez Zafar
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_theworldiwanttolivein_lettersnumbers.jpg)
The World I Want To Live In: Letters & Numbers
Directed by Tony Evans, Dnate McFallo, RangDzin-Elsa Haga-McFallo
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_rememberthepast.jpg)
Remember The Past, Transform The Future
Directed by Layne Lindroth, Jan Gierlach, Kimberly Kazanowski
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_breakingtheglassceiling.jpg)
Breaking The Glass Ceiling
Directed by Ivy Chan
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_avision.jpg)
A Vision
Directed by Isaiah Bernard Ferguson
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_thetransition.jpg)
The Transition
Directed by Qingyu Meng, Brian Meng
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_tribeofone.jpg)
Tribe Of One
Directed by Reigna Wren
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_donttellme.jpg)
Don’t Tell Me
Directed by Nayeli Ramirez, Angela Ramirez, Leah Young, Ti’Asia Boner
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_frere.jpg)
Frere
Directed by Jeremiah Bolder, Ellary Cooper, Xander Wynn
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_keonasstory.jpg)
Keona’s Story
Directed by Marco Towain Clark
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161103001634im_/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/sxsl/screenshot_agirlsrighttoeducation.jpg)
A Girl’s Right to Education
Directed by Nathalie Cabrera Hernandez, Nicoles Anyelis Rosario Reynoso, Justin Leo Rivera, Matthew Samuel Lennox Smart, Faeyah Muhammad, Samia Uddin