Hamptons Doc Fest education director Anita Boyer has announced the winners of its second annual “Hometown Heroes” documentary short film competition, where middle and high school students on the East End were invited to create a documentary short film honoring the local everyday heroes who have made a significant impact on their lives or their local community.
Jackson Rohrer took first place, earning a $300 scholarship. He is a junior at the Shelter Island School and his winning film is “The Lifeline of Shelter Island — Cliff Clark.”
Second place and a $200 scholarship went to Springs School eighth-grader Francisco Vazquez for his film “Mothers in the Country.”
The third-place winner, with a $100 scholarship is East Hampton High School senior Zoe Weaver, with “CTREE: A Center for Therapeutic Riding of the East End.”
Honorable Mentions go to Springs School eighth-grader Coral Borsack for “My Hero,” and to Bridgehampton School sophomore Ian Brabo for “Bridgehampton’s Hometown Hero Mr. Cox.”
The award ceremony for all five student documentarians, and the screening of the first-place winner’s film, will take place on Sunday, December 7, at 10 a.m. at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, at the start of the HDF “Shorts & Breakfast Bites” program, with the breakfast starting at 9:30 a.m.
The films were judged by a panel of industry professionals based on subject matter, effort and effective storytelling.
“What an incredible display of effort and creativity in this year’s submissions,” said Boyer. “We hope this is just the beginning of the students’ film careers as they continue to hone their craft and storytelling abilities.”
On Monday, December 8, Hamptons Doc Fest will hold its Young Voices Education Program at East Hampton Town’s LTV Studios in Wainscott.
At the hands-on workshop for middle and high school students, conducted by the Take Two Film Academy, students will view a short documentary and then learn about the use of music in documentary film. They will create sounds and music which they’ll incorporate into a short film to be screened at the end of the workshop, followed by a tour of LTV Studios.
Classes of students will be attending from Springs School, East Hampton High School, Bridgehampton High School, Sag Harbor’s Pierson High School, Southold High School, with Southampton High School students also expected.
Staff Writer on Nov 21, 2025