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Lights, camera, celebration! Hampton students celebrate the fourth year of the Next Generation Storytellers Film Festival

The Next Generation Storytellers Film Festival, held at the Ferguson Center for the Arts returned for its fourth year on October 16, 2026, highlighting student filmmakers from Hampton City Schools and Old Dominion University (ODU). The event featured six short films written, directed, and produced by students, showcasing a range of stories from comedy to drama—including four from Hampton City Schools: With A Side of Surprise, Asparagus Inc., At What Cost, and One Remaining Chance.

This year’s winners are:

Several Hampton City Schools and community leaders joined in presenting awards throughout the evening, including School Board Chair Dr. Richard Mason; School Board member Ann Cherry; Dr. Raymond Haynes, superintendent of Hampton City Schools; Hampton City Council members Carolyn Campbell and Randy Bowman; and Vice Mayor Steve Brown. In addition, members of the HCS Division Leadership Team, administrators, staff, student Noah Jemmott of Kecoughtan High School, and community members presented awards. Actors and founding leaders of Next Generation Storytellers Trent Garrett and Jacob Young, along with actor Obba Babatundé presented the HCS Best Picture award.

A special thanks to former HCS students Madysen Dougherty and Antonio Pitts, former film festival winners, who served as emcees.

 

The evening included a special appearance by Obba Babatundé, an acclaimed American actor, singer, dancer, and director whose prolific career spans over four decades across stage and screen. He earned a Tony Award nomination for originating the role of C.C. White in the hit Broadway musical Dreamgirls and won a Daytime Emmy Award for his role in CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful. A highly versatile performer, he is also well-known for his standout roles in films like Life and Philadelphia, as well as his recurring television roles in series such as S.W.A.T.