2023 Novel Expressions Art and Film Contest

Novel Expressions Art and Film Contest

2023 Winning entries

The results are in! Thank you to everyone who participated and came to celebrate the winners on Saturday, Oct. 28. See you next summer.

View this year's entries and finalists:

Presented by Loudoun County Public Library, Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services and Loudoun Youth Advisory Council.

Art CONTEST WINNERS

Middle School

First place: Cassie Copland 
Outside the Silo
Based on the book Wool by Hugh Howey

Second place: Viraj Nimkar 
A Pocket Full of Murder
Based on the book A Pocket Full of Murder by R. J. Anderson

Third place: Jayden Jung
Colton Walking Towards Heaven
Based on the book Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo

High School

First place: Yazheny Jothiramalinga
Melodies of Resilience: The Ballad of a Dreamer
Based on the book Guitar Boy by M. J. Auch

Second place: Eva Kay McKinley
An Old Fashioned Girl
Based on the book An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott

Third place: Kayla Fajans
Looking Back
Based on the book East by Edith Pattou

Adult

First place: Pepper Casanar
The Forest
Based on the story Hansel and Gretel

Second place: Mira Thaloor
Nature's Kindred Spirit
Based on the story Anne of Green Gables

Third place: Val Muller
Wendy
Based on the story Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

FILM CONTEST WINNERS

Middle School

First place: Vivian Hall
Matilda: I Love to Read

High School

First place: Oxford Graham
The Story of TE-7034

ART CONTEST

  • Artists are separated into three categories: Rising sixth- through eighth-graders, rising ninth- through 12th-graders, and adults.
  • Artists must live in Loudoun County, Va., or any of the following counties or cities: The cities of Falls Church, Alexandria, Winchester or the District of Columbia; Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Prince William, Clarke or Frederick counties in Virginia; Jefferson County in West Virginia; or Montgomery, Washington, Prince George's, Frederick or Charles counties in Maryland.
  • Only one submission per artist.  
  • Work must be original and previously unpublished (including on the Internet).
  • A piece of artwork that is unpublished but has won a monetary award in any other contest is ineligible.  

FILM CONTEST (TEENS ONLY)

  • Artists entering the film contest must be a rising sixth- through 12th-graders.
  • Artists must live in Loudoun County, Va., or any of the following counties or cities: The cities of Falls Church, Alexandria, Winchester or the District of Columbia; Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Prince William, Clarke or Frederick counties in Virginia; Jefferson County in West Virginia; or Montgomery, Washington, Prince George's, Frederick or Charles counties in Maryland.
  • Only one film may be submitted per artist.
  • Work must be original and previously unpublished (including on the Internet).
  • A film that is unpublished but has won a monetary award in any other contest is ineligible.  
  • Films must be suitable for a G to PG-13 audience.
  • We reserve the right to reject any submission deemed unsuitable or inappropriate. Films containing scenes about harming individuals will be automatically rejected.
  • Short films must be no longer than eight minutes.
  • Films should be uploaded as an unlisted video to a site such as YouTube. Include a link to the video in the submission form (rather than uploading the original file).

PRIZES & JUDGING

Prizes

The art contest will be judged in three divisions (middle school, high school and adult) with prizes awarded to the top finishers in each division. 

  • First place: $100 gift card and art supplies
  • Second place: $50 gift card and art supplies 
  • Third place: $25 gift card and art supplies

The film contest will be judged in two divisions (middle school and high school) with prizes awarded to the top finishers in each division. 

  • First place: $100 gift card and videography supplies
  • Second place: $50 gift card and videography supplies
  • Third place: $25 gift card and videography supplies

Judging

Entries will be judged by members of the Loudoun Youth Advisory Council, PRCS staff, teen librarians and local professional artists.

Questions

Email artcontest@library.loudoun.gov with any questions about the contest.  

Participants of this program grant Loudoun County Public Library and Loudoun County Parks, Recreation, and Community Services the right to publish their names and any portion of their submitted work in print and electronic publications in connection to the Novel Art Expressions Contest.

Please note that entries not in compliance with the above will be disqualified.