Three movies created by a diverse group of teens as part of the California Council for the Humanities' How I See It: Youth Digital Filmmakers program will premiere at the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival this weekend.

The three films, "Don't Erase My History" (about the quest to discover gay history by LGBT teens in the East Bay), "My Reality and My Vision" (about the legacy of the Khmer Rouge war in Cambodia by Khmer American girls in Long Beach) and "Hidden Hollywood" (a series of films by three homeless youth trying to find a place for themselves in the world), were created by young people in Long Beach, Los Angeles and the San Francisco East Bay area.

The movies, under the title "How I See It," will be shown on Sunday, June 29 at noon at the Italian Cultural Institute, 1023 Hilgard Avenue. The public is invited to attend this free event.

The Youth Digital Filmmakers program was designed to give young people an opportunity to use filmmaking as a way to explore the connections and disconnections in their lives and communities. It is part of the Council's youth initiative called How I See It. Film projects took place in San Francisco, Fresno, Lodi, Oakland and Siskiyou County in addition to Long Beach, Los Angeles and the East Bay. Some of the films have already been screened locally and additional screenings are planned.

Find out more about the Youth Digital Filmmakers program click here.

Find out more about the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival click here.