Authenticity.
That’s what Noah Villanueva decided to go for as he thought about how to present himself in his effort to be named Artist of the Year for Film and TV.
He said as much as he sat before a panel of judges a second year in a row. Villanueva, 18, was a semifinalist in 2024.
Meet the Artists of the Year
Dance: Piper Rovsek, Newport Beach
Theater: Isabella Kim, Fullerton
Instrumental music: Allie Molin, Mission Viejo
Vocal music: Madison Becerra, Fullerton
Fine arts: Helen Zhang, Irvine
Media arts: Jennifer (Doyeon) Kim, Yorba Linda
“I always think what version of myself do I want to present,” said Villanueva, a senior now at Northwood High.
So, he reminded himself: “The best version of me is the version that is authentic.”
The film Villanueva submitted with his artist statement — a nearly nine-minute suspense yarn titled “Faces” that he wrote and directed — reflected that need to be true to oneself.
In it, the main character can go back in time to correct a fatal mistake and ease her guilt.
A similar time-traveling choice was at the heart of another short film, “Pocket Watch,” that Villanueva chose to showcase in person.
Typically, when making a film, Villanueva doesn’t really have a plan about an underlying meaning, he explained. But later, he’ll see how a film — how his art — always reflects who he is.
That authenticity thing.
Noah Villanueva of Irvine, a senior studying at Northwood High School, is the film and TV Artist of the Year for 2025. Villa Nueva is pictured at the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
He’s not making films to win accolades or awards or validation. Can’t control any of that, he said. What he’s learned instead: “Make your art true to yourself.”
That prompted a question from Andy Lane, an associate professor at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. His expertise is storytelling.
“I’m not being glib,” Lane said to Villanueva, “but how’d you get to be so wise?”
Villanueva’s love for film comes from his father. It turned into a way for father and son to bond.
No wonder Villanueva became a filmmaker.
When he learned from a phone call a few days later that he had indeed been named Artist of the Year, Villanueva’s reaction couldn’t have been more genuine.
He gasped.
“You chose me?”
He had been thinking to himself afterward that his presentation had gone OK.
“I didn’t really have a plan,” Villanueva said. “I just wanted to be myself.”
His plan for college, however, depends on what happens with his application to Chapman’s Dodge College, where he said he had been wait-listed. It’s his top choice. But there are other colleges where he has been accepted to study film.
Lane said he’d like to see Villanueva end up at Chapman but offered some advice.
“It doesn’t matter where you go. You’ll do fine.”
Film and TV finalists
In addition to Artist of the Year, the judges selected five finalists from 16 semifinalists — usually it’s four but there was a deadlock. The students showcased their skills in cinematography, directing, editing, sound design, and visual effects.
Aracely Aispuro Morales of Buena Park, a junior studying at Buena Park High School, is a film and TV finalist for Artist of the Year in 2025. (Photo courtesy of Sophia Ortega)
Aracely Aispuro Morales, Division 2: Her films tackle difficult topics. The struggles of the foster care system. Eating disorders. Body dysmorphia. Immigration. Pretty heavy lifting for Morales, who is 17 and only a junior at Buena Park High. The work-in-progress film she presented was about a family’s immigration experience. The judges noted her strong storytelling. When the writing, picture, lighting, sound and all motion come together, Morales said, “it’s like creating a new word you’ve never known.”
Nelan Castillo of Santa Ana, a senior studying at Orange County School of the Arts, is a film and TV finalist for Artist of the Year in 2025. (Photo courtesy of Timothy Okajima)
Nelan Castillo, Division 1: His film “My Life” is his senior project at Orange County School of the Arts. It’s about a kid whose dad dies right before his senior year of high school. Castillo wrote, directed and produced it. And he’s living it, documenting his senior year in memory of his dad, who died from cancer. “To make him proud,” said Castillo, 18. He plans to attend Saddleback College and continue making films.
Bendicio Gonzalez of Orange, a senior studying at Fairmont Preparatory Academy, is a film and TV finalist for Artist of the Year in 2025. (Photo courtesy of Valentino Kitchen)
Bendicio Gonzalez, Division 2: Gonzalez first took a film class two years ago as a sophomore at Fairmont Preparatory School. He spent the next year independently exploring different types of movies and the eras they were created. Back in film class as a senior, Gonzalez, 17, said, “I like to think of myself as a cinematographer who writes, directs and edits everything around the visuals.” He will study film at Chapman University.
Kyle Hero Kim of Irvine, a senior studying at Orange County School of the Arts, is a film and TV finalist for Artist of the Year in 2025. (Photo courtesy of Ethan Chu)
Kyle Hero Kim, Division 1: Kim, 17, appeared via Zoom, from inside a car, while on a family trip to Connecticut. Watching movies is another group activity in his family, with a Friday night tradition dating back to his childhood. In middle school, Kim attended a summer filmmaking camp at Orange County School of the Arts, where he is now a senior. He was looking at attending NYU or USC to major in film.
Kyan T. Whiten of Seal Beach, a senior studying at Los Alamitos High School, is a film and TV finalist for Artist of the Year in 2025. (Photo courtesy of Luke Sanchez)
Kyan Whitan, Division 1: He submitted pieces that explore depression and other teen mental health issues, pollution, and fear of the unknown. “Art, for me, is about offering insight and hope, even when addressing challenging topics,” Whitan, 18, wrote in his artist statement. A senior at Los Alamitos High, he’s been accepted at Chapman University for film. But, he said, it’s “super expensive” so he may just seek work in the local film and TV industry.
The judges
Special thanks to the judges who helped evaluate students this year.
The judges who evaluated the 61 film and TV nominees and chose the 16 semifinalists were:
Karen Bennett, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Conner Brown, Los Alamitos High School
Heide Janssen, Executive Producer, Artist of the Year
Timothy Marklevitz, Laguna Hills High School
Aaron Orullian, Orange County School of the Arts
Rebeccah Phillips, Irvine High School
Mark Switzer, El Dorado High School
Shayan Vaziritabar, Buena Park High School
The judges who interviewed the semifinalists and chose the five finalists and the Artist of the Year were:
Karen Bennett, Film and Media Teacher, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Heide Janssen, Executive Producer, Artist of the Year
Andy Lane, Associate Professor, Chapman University
Eric Nong, Artistic Director, Viet Film Fest
Victor Payan, Founding Director, Media Arts Santa Ana/OC Film Fiesta
Grace Stanton, Cinema Studies and Film Teacher, Valencia High School
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Division 1 students have had more than three years of film and TV training in school and/or privately. Division 2 students have had less than three years.