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Finalist

The Version I Was

After a 17-year-old girl revisits her childhood bedroom and meets her 8-year-old self, a devastating prom-night breakup forces her to lean on the innocence and strength she rediscovered.
Submitted by: Newbury Park High School
Genre: Drama • Family
Shooting Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
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Screenplay Synopsis:
A 17-year-old girl suddenly finds herself back in her childhood bedroom, where she meets her 8-year-old self. At first, it feels strange but familiar. They talk about growing up, phones, dreams, and what life is like in the future. The younger version is curious and honest, reminding the older one of the creativity and innocence she didn’t realize she was losing. Later that night, after getting broken up with at prom, the older girl comes home heartbroken. Her younger self appears again, this time offering comfort in simple ways—slow dancing, playing dress-up, and looking through old drawings. There’s no big speech, just quiet moments that help her feel okay again. A 17-year-old girl unexpectedly finds herself standing in her childhood bedroom, face-to-face with her 8-year-old self. What starts as an awkward, curious meeting slowly turns into a quiet conversation about growing up. The younger version asks innocent questions about the future—friends, phones, dreams—and the older version answers honestly, realizing how much has changed without her even noticing. Together, they walk through memories hiding in plain sight: drawings on the walls, stuffed animals, and the small details that once meant everything. The younger girl is still full of creativity and imagination, while the older one carries the weight of expectations, pressure, and trying to figure out who she’s supposed to be. Through their interaction, the older girl is reminded of how fearless she used to feel, how freely she created, and how deeply she believed in herself. Later that night, after being broken up with at prom, the older girl comes home emotionally drained. Her perfect dress and shoes suddenly feel meaningless. Sitting alone in her room, she feels completely defeated—until her younger self appears again. This time, there’s less talking and more feeling. They slow dance, laugh, play with makeup, and look through old drawings. There’s no attempt to fix the heartbreak—just comfort in being together. As they share these small moments, the older girl begins to soften. She takes down photos from her wall, wipes away tears, and reconnects with parts of herself she thought were gone. The younger version doesn’t offer solutions. She simply reminds her that she’s still the same person underneath everything. The film explores first heartbreak, growing up too fast, and the quiet loss of childhood. It shows how easy it is to forget who you were once responsibilities, relationships, and expectations take over. But it also shows that healing doesn’t always come from moving forward—sometimes it comes from looking back. At its core, this story is about remembering your younger self during your hardest moments and realizing that even when life feels overwhelming, the parts of you that mattered most never truly leave.
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Director's statement:

This film came from my own fear of growing up and losing the parts of myself that once felt effortless. As kids, we create without overthinking, feel things fully, and believe in endless possibilities. Somewhere along the way, that starts to fade. I wanted to explore what would happen if we could sit across from our younger selves, not to change anything, but try to listen. The younger version represents innocence, creativity, and honesty, while the older version carries heartbreak, pressure, and expectations. Bringing them together allowed me to visually show the quiet battle between who we were and who we are becoming. The bedroom serves as a time capsule. Every object holds memory: drawings, stuffed animals, makeup, phones. These details reflect how our priorities shift as we grow older. The first visit feels warm and nostalgic, while the second is grounded in reality, after heartbreak hits. That contrast was intentional, showing how quickly life can change, and how important it is to hold onto your inner child during hard moments. This story is deeply personal. Like many teenagers, I’ve experienced first heartbreak, self-doubt, and the pressure to grow up fast. Making this film helped me remember that healing doesn’t always come from moving forward, but sometimes it comes from looking back. At its core, this film is about remembering who you were before the world told you who to be.

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