Five Towns College President David Cohen addresses a sold-out crowd at LIMAS 2026

Photo: Five Towns College President David Cohen addresses a sold-out crowd at LIMAS 2026

LIMAS 2026 Inspired Long Island’s Next Generation of Creators

Five Towns College in Dix Hills recently hosted its annual Long Island Media Arts Show (LIMAS 2026), and it was a morning chock-full of energy and excitement.

With packed speaker sessions, student work on display, and an inspirational keynote speaker who also happens to be a Five Towns College professor, LIMAS 2026 offered a glimpse into what a future in the creative industries can look like, without ever leaving Long Island.

A creative hub for Long Island teens

LIMAS brought together talented high school students from across Long Island, giving them a platform to display their work and connect with others who share their passion.

Many teens there submitted creative works in categories such as digital art, photography, animation, and film. They eagerly attended the event with their teachers, friends, and family members to learn if they won an award. Other teens simply wanted to support their high school, explore college, and attend creative workshops.

Some of the high schools represented at LIMAS 2026 included Bellport High School, Barry Tech, Commack High School, Long Beach High School, Wyandanch High School, Patchogue-Medford High School, and Northport High School, among many others.

Photo: Keynote Speaker Romeo Tirone

Keynote speaker energizes the crowd

Romeo Tirone, ASC, DGA, was the event’s keynote speaker and kicked off the morning by sharing his career path and advice. Now a professor at Five Towns College, Tirone explained how a single filmmaking class at St. John’s University changed his life. A professor recognized his potential early on and pushed him toward a career he originally hadn’t planned.

Tirone shared that his early days in the industry were anything but glamorous, but he “loved it.”

“I was reloading mags for 24 hours,” he recalled, describing the grind of working as a loader on music videos in his early twenties.

But hard work pays off.

Tirone built professional relationships along the way, which led to projects with legendary musicians Ozzy Osbourne and Tupac Shakur.

Today, he is an Emmy-nominated cinematographer with a deeply impressive résumé, who also collaborated with Hollywood filmmaker Michael Cuesta, a Long Island native. Tirone later moved on to major television productions including Dexter, True Blood, Once Upon a Time, and The Tick.

He showed an exciting clip from The Tick and explained how he pulled off the scene of a bus dangling off a bridge.

Tirone’s message to LIMAS guests was clear: “Stay human in a world of advancing technology and never let anyone stop you from following your passion.”

He also reminded the audience that the tools to start creating are already in their hands…so get started.

“You can make movies right now with the phone in your pocket.”

LIMAS_2026_winners

Photo: 2026 LIMAS Winners

Celebrating student talent

After Tirone’s speech, which was met with loud cheers and whoops from the audience, the LIMAS 2026 awards were presented to the winning students. They took a group photo on stage, cheered on by their friends and teachers.

Senior Jillian Heuer of Northport High School won Best Photographer for her piece Firebird.

“I’m very proud to win; Firebird was a photo of a dancer from my school’s dance team, The Tigerettes,” she explained. Heuer plans to pursue a BFA in photography, crediting experiences like LIMAS for helping clarify her future.

Students who submitted artwork to LIMAS 2026 had their work reviewed by judges, displayed in a gallery on campus, and celebrated in front of peers, teachers, and family members.

For many, it was the first time their creativity was recognized on such a large stage–which was deeply rewarding.

Learning from industry professionals

After the awards ceremony and a lunch break, students attended innovative conference sessions–over 15 were offered–led by industry professionals. Most students attended two sessions of their choice.

Pre-Production Artist Anthony Prevete explained to participants how 3D environments can become powerful pre-production tools for 2D Artwork and visual storytelling. Podcaster and producer Rachel Ann Strauss explained how storytelling continues to evolve across platforms.

For many LIMAS 2026 attendees, it was their first time hearing directly from people doing the exact jobs they dream about.

Image: Crane demonstration at LIMAS

A Legacy of Creativity

William Buchholz, one of LIMAS’s original founders, reflected on how far the showcase has come over the past 25 years. A retired art and media teacher from the Farmingdale Public School District, he remains in awe of everything LIMAS offers to high schoolers.

“The college brings in the best,” he said, referring to the caliber of speakers and session leaders.

Buchholz emphasized that while tools and technology evolve, the heart of creativity does not. His advice to today’s students remains timeless: “Find a job you love, and it won’t feel like work, especially if you get paid for it.”

He also encourages students to start exploring creative paths early, even in middle school, and build meaningful relationships with mentors who are actively working in the field.

Experiencing campus life at Five Towns College

LIMAS 2026 also introduced Long Island teenagers to everything Five Towns College has to offer.

From guided tours to conversations with current students and faculty, teens got a sense of what life could look like as future Five Towns College students.

Unlike larger universities where it is easy to feel lost, Five Towns offers a more personalized environment where students can stand out, collaborate closely with peers, and learn directly from professors who are still active in their industries.

There is also a growing focus on modern technology. At LIMAS, attendees learned that Five Towns College will soon introduce a course in artificial intelligence (AI), signaling a commitment to staying current with the changing times.

Overall, LIMAS bridges the gap between high school creativity and professional opportunity, reminding students they do not have to travel far or spend a fortune to pursue their passions.

For Long Island teens interested in audio, film, photography, production design, digital media, business, music or theatre, the opportunities are right here at Five Towns College, whether they choose to commute or live on campus in a dorm.

A record-breaking year

“This was by far our largest year in terms of presentation and workshop sessions, conference attendance, and art submissions,” said Sharon Ryba-Pertz, Director of LIMAS 2026. “We are proud of our students for really demonstrating their professionalism on and off the set. Our keynote speaker, Five Towns College Professor Romeo Tirone, ASC, DGA, was an absolute highlight.”

She added: “We received great feedback during the event and from a survey shared with attendees. Aside from providing a day of learning and entertainment, this event showcases the real-world industry skills that our students gain through our programs.”