Students from Val Verde High School of Perris, California just won an international filmmaking competition with an short film combating teen suicide.
The Panasonic Kid Witness News (KWN) 2011 Global Video Contest is a year-long, in-school video education program and competition, in which students create films touching on a socially significant issue, according to a press release.
The Val Verde team responded to the challenge with "Without Me," a video on teen suicide prevention. They were honored with the Grand Prize and the Best Script award at a ceremony held Thursday night at the Globe Theatre at Universal Studios Hollywood. As winners of the grand prize, the Val Verde High teens will participate in Panasonic's "Heritage Eco Learning Program," which entails a visit to a World Heritage site to see natural wonders and cultural and historic landmarks.
The six finalist teams included students from Russia, Slovakia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Japan. All qualifying schools in the program, of which there are hundreds, receive video equipment from Panasonic. Watch the Val Verde students' award-winning entry above.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.