Screening of short films by area teens set for Tuesday

Student Delaney Finnegan of Minarets Charter High School directed the award-winning public service announcement "Start the Change" under advisor Juan Ortiz.

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Public service announcements created by teen auteurs from Madera South High School, Pioneer Technical Center and Minarets Charter High School will be screened at the Tower Theatre, 815 E. Olive Ave in Fresno, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The short films were entrants in this year's statewide Directing Change student film contest, and the second place winner and an honorable mention for region 4 came from Madera County.

Minarets student Delaney Finnegan directed the award-winning public service announcement "Start the Change" under advisor Juan Ortiz.

Madera South students David Vargas and Ivan Pimentel earned an honorable mention with PSA "More than Label" under advisor Todd McElrath.

The category for the entries was "suicide prevention."

Students from Madera and Fresno counties submitted entries "to change the conversation about suicide prevention and mental health in their schools," explained administrative assistant Sabrina Newlon of Madera County Behavioral Health Services.