RCC Student Natalie Zamora Wins 2025 Riverside International Film Festival Poster Competition

Riverside City College (RCC) is proud to announce that Graphic Design student Natalie “Connie” Zamora has been selected as the winner of the 2025 Riverside International Film Festival (RIFF) poster competition. Her original design will be featured on promotional materials across Riverside County and the RIFF website, helping spotlight the festival's cultural impact and creative reach.

For Zamora, this honor represents more than just artistic recognition—it marks a milestone in her journey as a graphic designer.

“This award, to me, represents a milestone for my career in Graphic Design,” said Zamora. “It also represents the amount of work that I put in and will continue to put in throughout my academic years. Opportunities like this allow everyone in Graphic Design to express their take on Riverside, and I'm proud to be part of that.”

Zamora credits her early start in high school—where she completed two years of graphic design courses—as a major contributor to her success. The ability to conceptualize and sketch ideas quickly gave her the edge she needed to create a compelling and visually striking poster.

“I proudly say that I was capable of putting ideas together quickly to create my poster,” she said. “But I couldn’t have done it without my mentors—my professor, friends, and family—who helped critique my work and guide me toward my highest potential.”

Looking ahead, Zamora plans to use this opportunity as a springboard to showcase her work more broadly and inspire other young designers who may feel intimidated by the creative world.

“I want people to know what I’m capable of. This could help my career and future success,” she said. “To those who are nervous about stepping into the design world, I want to show them that it’s okay to be anxious—and that there will always be someone out there who sees your potential.”

Zamora’s work will be on full display during the 2025 Riverside International Film Festival, a celebration of local and global filmmaking that draws creatives and audiences from across the region.

For more information about the Riverside International Film Festival, visit www.riversidefilmfest.org.