Huntington Filmmakers Vie in Locust Valley Festival

Huntington High School filmmakers recently vied in the 19th annual Locust Valley Film Festival. The Blue Devils have participated in the event for many years.

Filmmakers from across Long Island created projects in the animation, comedy, commercial, drama, horror, music video, documentary, public service announcement and trailer categories. The works were judged by industry professionals Kory Diskin, Rob Graydon, Colin Hickey, John Marean and Debra Markowitz.

Students from 14 high schools submitted 237 separate films for consideration. Festival coordinators chose 75 for the final screening.

“Out of the four videos submitted by Huntington High School, two made it to the final screening,” said art teacher Heather Swan, who leads Huntington’s film program. “Holy Household” a reality television show comedy by Alex Tine and “Sinister Seven” a movie trailer by Alex Tine and former video students Landry Flynn and Michael Mendikyan advanced to the finals.

“The lineup of videos selected for the final screening this year were top notch,” Ms. Swan said. The festival was held at Locust Valley High School’s Howard A. Schmock Auditorium.

Participants spent the day watching their peers’ films, before enjoying lunch and dessert whipped up by the Locust Valley High School culinary club and then voting on their favorite project for the audience choice.

The first-place winners in each genre, as well as the cinematography, directing, editing and sound design categories all received full scholarships to the 2025 Five Towns College Summer Scholars.