Posing for photos on a red carpet isn’t what most teens do on Friday night, but Preston Hollow’s Episcopal School of Dallas students traded watching football and spending time with friends for an evening in the spotlight.

The ESD Film Festival held this past Friday celebrated short films produced by students across the city.  After receiving nearly 65 submissions from independent schools — including Preston Hollow’s Hockaday, Jesuit College Preparatory and Ursuline — more than 20 films were selected to be screened.

ESD Film Club members (left to right) Cal Etcheverry, film teacher Bobby Weiss, Byars Crowe, Grace Boyd, Chloe Williams, Virginia Tiernan, and Ellery Marshall pose on the red carpet Friday at the ESD Film Festival.

ESD Film Club members (left to right) Cal Etcheverry, film teacher Bobby Weiss, Byars Crowe, Grace Boyd, Chloe Williams, Virginia Tiernan and Ellery Marshall pose on the red carpet Friday at the ESD Film Festival.

Actress Carolyn McCormick, Dallas County Community College film professor Andy Chiles and Dallas film critic Gary Cogill judged each student’s creation.

ESD film teacher Bobby Weiss organized the festival with junior Ellery Marshall, who spearheaded the film selection process and watched every submission herself.

“They totally blew away my expectations,” she says.

Freshman Brooks Butler DJs at the event.

Freshman Brooks Butler DJs at the event.

For Weiss, the festival served as a forum for students to showcase their talent and interact with their peers from other schools off the athletic fields.

“I hope that they feel like their films are being seen and heard,” Weiss says.

The All American High School Film Festival, which students participated in this October, helped sponsor the festival.