A documentary film created by Ward Melville High School sophomore Elyas Masrour was selected for this year’s All American Film Festival, which was held in New York City on Oct. 7 and 8.

Elyas’ film, “Peep: The Story of the Piping Plovers on West Meadow Beach,” was filmed locally in the summer of 2016 and documents the plight of the piping plover, an endangered bird species. This film was screened in Times Square as part of the festival. 

Following the screening, Elyas attended an awards ceremony and reception at the historic Kings Theatre in Brooklyn. While Elyas’ film was created as an independent project, he credits his film under the guidance of P.J. Gelinas Junior High School science teacher Gary Vorwald and West Meadow Beach Park Ranger Molly Hastings.