Abby News featured local Abbotsford Young Moviemakers participants after their short film Ring of the Nerds earned Best Picture at the 2026 Gala Awards. The article emphasizes the team’s accomplishment while also outlining the program’s broader role in youth film education, highlighting our hands-on instruction and professional quality which support emerging student filmmakers across British Columbia.
Surrey Schools spotlighted Young Moviemakers co founder Levente Mihalik's UBC award and his work as a media production and ADST teacher at École Salish Secondary and his commitment to connecting with youth through trust based mentorship. The feature shares his journey to becoming an award winning educator, while highlighting how his leadership continues beyond the classroom through Young Moviemakers and SFU Summer Film Academy, empowering student filmmakers.
UBC Faculty of Education announced Young Moviemakers co founder Levente Mihalik as the 2025 Alumni Educator of the Year, recognizing his impact as an educator, award winning filmmaker, mentor, and founder of Young Moviemakers. The article highlights his 15 plus years advancing media education through Young Moviemakers and the Surrey School District Summer Film Academy, empowering students to build confidence, media literacy, and create award winning films.
Surrey Schools featured the second year of Young Moviemakers co-founder Levente Mihalik leading the SFU Film Academy, highlighting how the program continues to grow and inspire emerging youth filmmakers. The spotlight follows Grade 8–11 students exploring the role of artificial intelligence in filmmaking, using AI tools to help generate scenes and trailers while still building essential production fundamentals. The article emphasizes the academy’s mix of hands-on storytelling, mentorship, and new creative technology.
Surrey Schools highlighted Young Moviemakers co-founder Levente Mihalik for helping develop and lead the SFU Film Academy, an intensive month-long summer program in partnership with SFU Surrey FCAT. Designed for Grade 8–11 students, the academy offers real-world filmmaking experience while allowing participants to earn course credit. The feature showcases Mihalik’s mentorship-driven approach as students write, direct, perform in, and edit their own original short films from start to finish.
Young Moviemakers’ pedagogical methods have been included in new academic research conducted at the University of British Columbia (UBC) within their Master of Media and Technology Studies Education program. In addition to project-based learning (PBL), Young Moviemakers’ approach aligns with the British Columbia Ministry of Education’s new curriculum, emphasizing confidence, self-esteem, and inclusion while exploring competencies like collaboration, communication, and critical thinking—qualities valued by universities, colleges, and employers alike.
Young Moviemakers was recognized for its inclusive workplace culture, receiving an Untapped Award as a diverse and inclusive small business employer. The Untapped Awards celebrate small businesses across British Columbia that demonstrate excellence in cultural diversity, accessibility, and disability inclusion. This recognition reflects our commitment to creating an equitable, welcoming environment where people of all backgrounds and abilities can thrive and contribute meaningfully.
Young Moviemakers co founder Levente Mihalik was honoured as one of B.C.’s most enterprising young business leaders in the BCBusiness 30 Under 30 list. Each year, BCBusiness recognizes outstanding young professionals across British Columbia who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and community impact in their fields. This recognition reflects Levente’s commitment to empowering youth through film education and creating meaningful opportunities for emerging storytellers.
Young Moviemakers alumni Esabella Strickland was featured on CTV News after winning a $250,000 U.S. prize in an international screenwriting contest. The video clip captures the CTV broadcast highlighting her outstanding talent, creativity, and achievement on a global stage. Her success showcases the impact of emerging storytellers and the value of supporting young filmmakers through mentorship and training programs.
Young Moviemakers was recognized as a Top 5 BC Community Builder in the Small Business BC Awards. This honour celebrates our dedication to supporting youth in film, nurturing creativity, and strengthening community connections through storytelling. Being named among BC’s leading community builders reflects the impact of our programs and our ongoing commitment to empowering young filmmakers and creating meaningful opportunities for young voices to thrive.
Young Moviemakers was invited to The Kid Carson Show on Z95.3FM, Vancouver’s biggest radio show, to share more about our programs and the positive impact they have on youth and the community. During the segment, we highlighted how our workshops empower young filmmakers, build confidence through storytelling, and create meaningful creative opportunities for diverse young voices across British Columbia.
Young Moviemakers was recognized by the Province of British Columbia with the BC Job Maker Award, celebrating our contributions to youth employment and creative education. This honour highlights the impact of our programs in creating meaningful opportunities for young people, building workplace skills, and supporting emerging talent in the film industry. We are proud to help youth launch creative careers and gain real-world experience.
Young Moviemakers alumni Esabella Strickland was recognized by Vancouver Is Awesome after winning a $250,000 U.S. prize in an international screenwriting contest. The feature spotlights her exceptional talent, creativity, and dedication to storytelling. Esabella’s success is an inspiring example of young filmmakers achieving global recognition and reflects the power of nurturing emerging voices through mentorship, training, and creative opportunities.
CBC spotlighted nine year old Maia Costea, a young Vancouver filmmaker and actor with more than a dozen film credits, whose fantasy sci fi short Behind The Rocks was featured at the Vancouver Short Film Festival. The article highlights how Maia wrote, directed, acted, and edited the film, learning leadership and creative pressure along the way, with mentorship and family support helping bring her imaginative storytelling to life.
Young Moviemakers alumni Esabella Strickland was recognized by Toronto Film Magazine for her creativity and unique storytelling voice. The feature highlights her passion for filmmaking and her ability to create original stories that connect with audiences. This recognition reflects the impact of Young Moviemakers programs, which support emerging filmmakers through hands on training, collaboration, and mentorship, helping youth build skills, confidence, and opportunities in the film industry.
Young Moviemakers were featured in Abby News, highlighting Abbotsford students from Clayburn Middle School taking the top prize at our Red Carpet Gala, emphasizing the creative process, collaboration, and mentorship supported through Young Moviemakers. The feature also spotlighted YM’s expanding impact beyond Vancouver, offering hands-on experience in storytelling, production, and technical skills for emerging filmmakers.
Young Moviemakers were featured on Shaw TV’s Gen Why news broadcast, showcasing how our programs empower young filmmakers to create their own movies. The segment highlighted the creative process and opportunities Young Moviemakers provides, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience in storytelling, production, and technical skills.
Young Moviemakers alumni Esabella Strickland, was recognized by Film Daily for her accomplishments in both the entertainment industry and as a youth advocate. Strickland's journey mirrors the experience of many Young Moviemakers participants, who benefit from early opportunities that YM offers, providing budding filmmakers with the tools and guidance to tell compelling stories, fostering talent from a young age.
Young Moviemakers alumni Grayson Gurnsey was featured in this article by PureWow for his acting career and role as Ricky in Netflix’s hit show Virgin River. Young Moviemakers helped provide a foundation for his future success, and in 2021, Grayson’s work reached new heights as Virgin River claimed the #1 spot on Netflix, showcasing his talent on a global stage.
Young Moviemakers alumni Maia Costea was recognized by the Daily Hive (formerly Vancity Buzz) for her filmmaking successes at such a young age. Costea credits Young Moviemakers for supporting her filmmaking pursuits and emphasizes the program's impact on nurturing youth talent.