RCC Art Students Recognized at the 23rd Annual Riverside International Film Festival

Riverside City College’s Animation students from the Department of Art & Art History received special recognition at the 23rd Annual Riverside International Film Festival (RIFF), marking RCC Animation’s first official partnership with the long-standing event.

The “RCC Animation Spotlight” program was featured during this year’s festival, giving nine current and former students the opportunity to screen their films and engage in a live Q&A with audience members and festival organizers. The students honored in the showcase included Caiwei Zhou, Jenny Pham, Ysabel Morales, Leah Ariel Magdaleno, Ruby Castellanos, Kyle Brookshire, Amani Scott, Jessica Diaz, and Xander Campa.

“This was an incredible platform for our students to share their voices, creativity, and hard work with the community,” said RCC spokesperson. “It’s inspiring to see their talents recognized on a professional stage.”

The spotlight program culminated in two major honors at the RIFF Awards Ceremony:

• Audience Choice Award: Runaway Star! by Caiwei Zhou

• Jury Award: East LA by Xander Campa

In addition, the official 2025 RIFF poster was designed by RCC Art student Natalie (Connie) Zamora, showcasing the artistic contributions of RCC students beyond the screen.

During the post-screening Q&A session, students introduced their films and thoughtfully responded to questions from an engaged audience, gaining valuable experience in presenting their work in a professional setting.

The partnership between RCC Animation and RIFF highlights the college’s commitment to fostering creative talent and connecting students to real-world opportunities in the arts and entertainment industry.