Spy Hop’s REEL STORIES Premiere

Dive into community stories through the lens of local teen filmmakers. At this nonfiction premiere of 7 short films, complete with a filmmaker Q&A, you’ll see the world through their eyes, hear their stories, and leave with a deeper appreciation for youth voices in the creative arts. Each year, these teens plan, film, and edit their short films in just three weeks, producing a complete short film as part of a Spy Hop bootcamp. REEL STORIES is a free community event. Find out more about Spy Hop’s free creative programs for teens at spyhop.org.

About the films:

• A Funeral with Rainbows Directed by Cora Hah (she/her): Voices from the Utah Pride Parade explore the evolving meaning of Pride, identity, community, and queer history.
• Amor Eres Directed by Guadalupe Orozco (she/her): Three young queer Latinos reflect on culture, belonging, and the beauty and challenges of navigating intersecting identities.
• Covenant Directed by Ashlind Byers (he/him): Ollie Trujillo, a mixed-race teenager, grapples with questions of heritage and selfhood, ultimately finding belonging through chosen family.
• People on the Train Directed by Sabine Whitesides (she/her): Conversations with strangers on public transit reveal stories of connection, observation, and the importance of shared public spaces.
• Quilting a Community Directed by Violet Anderson (she/her): An exploration of quilting as an artistic tradition that connects generations of women.
• Shade From the Sun Directed by Olivia Petithomme (she/her): A portrait of Luze Pierre, who recounts her first memories in America, and how resilience, faith, and community were helpful to her journey.
• Where Whales Learned to Spy Hop Directed by Luci Brown (she/they): A Spy Hop student turns the camera onto the mentors and staff who help shape the organization’s creative community.