Standout Spartan: Morgan Smartt '25

Congratulations to Morgan Smartt ’25, whose film, “Enough,” won second place in the national Changing Minds Film Festival. Established in 2015 as part of the NYC Mental Health Film Festival, Changing Minds is a filmmaking initiative by and for young people. It has grown to a festival showcasing the films of talented young filmmakers from around the world.

Morgan’s film follows a character grappling with the effects of obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety on a daily basis. “They learn to rise above the persistent voice of their personal enemy and take comfort in discomfort,” said Morgan. “The film is live action and also features one of my animated characters.” They added, “I have always used film — and more broadly, art — as a way to express feelings and experiences that not only resonate with me, but the larger population. With ‘Enough,’ I combined film and animation to create an entirely new world to share complicated feelings.”

In addition to being recognized for their work, Morgan was thrilled to be interviewed by actor John Turturro for Apple TV. “That was an awesome experience as I'm a huge fan of ‘Severance,’ said Morgan, who was also interviewed by the founder of the New York Illumination Fund, Laurie Tisch. “Along with two other winners, we were asked questions about our films, personal journeys, and how film serves as a platform for sharing mental health stories,” said Morgan. The interview will be available on Apple TV soon. 

The Changing Minds Film Festival will take place on May 17 in New York City. “I’ll be there next year!” said Morgan. “Unfortunately, I did not meet the age requirements for this year's festival.”

We are so proud of you, Morgan!