Behind the Eyes has won one of 20 prize categories from 115 entries in the 10th Someday Challenge.
The competition asks young people up to the age of 24 to create films less than five minutes long on the theme of sustainability.
The short film was created by Roxburgh Area School team the "Anti-Suicide Squad", consisting of pupils Mackenzie Reid, Paige Wise, Greer Orchard, Emily Darling and Mackenzie Prew.
Group leader Mackenzie Reid said rather than tackle environmental issues, they took the theme in another direction and explored the idea of "mental stability".
The film followed a group of teenagers and was about moving past physical appearances to what was happening inside, she said.
It was filmed on the school hand-held camera and edited on her sister’s computer.The mostly silent film was shot around Roxburgh and examines bullying, homophobia and depression.
All five of the girls acted in the film, as well as other friends they recruited.
Mackenzie Prew said they initially entered "just for a bit of fun".
"Then we got into the final 40 and started thinking ‘we could actually do this’.
"We’ve had so much support from everyone in the valley. So many people have come up to me to tell me how much they loved it."
They got the idea to enter when the two Mackenzies and Paige attended the Outlook For Someday film workshop in Alexandra in August.
This inspired them to delve further into film-making.
Those three girls will attend a red carpet award ceremony in Auckland next Thursday and will learn which of the 20 awards they have won.
● The film can be watched and voted for as fan favourite at http://theoutlookforsomeday.net/films/2016/104/
