The 2025 Orange County Film Festival

The Dorado Film and TV students had a huge night at the 2025 Orange County Film Festival on Friday, April 25th. This year’s OCFF took place at the historic Lido Theater in Newport Beach. El Dorado students entered the evening with 34 nominations across various film and individual achievement categories and ended up taking home 7 film awards.

The highlight of the night came when EDHS senior James Conlee was named the 2025 Orange County Filmmaker of the Year. James earned 11 individual nominations and was represented in almost every major category, including sweeping all three nominations for Best Original Score. He also collaborated with students from Irvine High School and Valencia High School on Intake, which won Best Short Film.

Several of the nominated films from OCFF will also be screened at the upcoming El Dorado Film Festival next Friday, May 2nd, in the PAC.

2025 ORANGE COUNTY FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

2025 Orange County Filmmaker of the Year - JAMES CONLEE

2025 Mentor of the Year - MARK SWITZER

Best PSA - Seasons of Hope - CIANA GONAZALES, CLAIRE NG, RIVER SANTIAGO

Best Music Video - April Come She Will - JD CAVALLUZZI

Best Documentary - The Hillclimber - JAMES CONLEE

Best Short Film - Intake - Benjamin Loy (Irvine), Sienna Perez (Valencia), JAMES CONLEE, Katelyn Marshall (Irvine)

Best Score - April Come She Will - JAMES CONLEE and AVALINA THOMAS

Best Director - ZOEY RODRIGUEZ - The Bottle Spin

Best Cinematography - JAMES CONLEE - April Come She Will