Abbotsford student takes home top documentary film award in TWU contest
Published 3:50 pm Wednesday, September 16, 2026
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Among all the potential Steven Spielbergs and Greta Gerwigs in B.C. high schools, one Abbotsford student is being celebrated above them all as part of a Trinity Western University (TWU) competition.
The Frame It Forward contest challenges Grade 11 and 12 students to create short films centred around that year’s theme.
For the 2026 competition, the theme was “creating positive change” and asked the young filmmakers to demonstrate stories of how creativity and compassion are being used to benefit the world.
One of the students who rose to this challenge was Ben Torio of MEI Secondary.
The Grade 12 student created his short documentary, Peace – Now in Technicolor, which explored the work being done by the team at Fraser Valley Gleaners Society.
This non-profit gathers, dehydrates, and packages fresh and frozen local produce before it’s shipped to hungry communities around the world.
As part of the five-minute film, Torio interviewed Fraser Valley Gleaners Society administration assistant Melissa Pelletier, as well as several of the local volunteers.
Torio said Peace – Now in Technicolor helps spread an important message.
“The meaning behind it, at least the title, is that peace is not black or white, but it’s available to all colours, cultures, and people,” said Torio.
“It comes in many forms.”
The judges of the Frame It Forward competition appeared to agree with the importance of the film, giving it first place.
For winning the top spot, Torio was also given a $1,000 prize.
Kevin Schut, dean of TWU’s School of the Arts, Media, and Culture, said hosting such a contest is even more important nowadays given the state of film and media in general.
“In a world flooding with meaningless AI slop, we have a deep need for talented creators who can construct meaningful narratives that make a difference in the world,” said Schut.
“Ben’s short film is a great example of how creativity can inspire people to bless the world the way God intended us to.”
Peace – Now in Technicolor can be viewed at twu.ca/news-events.