Film Alum Makes History with Directors Guild of America Award

June 4 2026

A CSN film student has made history, becoming the first community college student to win a Directors Guild of America Student Spotlight Award.

Hisonni Johnson, a graduate of CSN’s Videography and Film Program, won the Best Documentary Student Filmmaker Grand Prize for the West Region. He received a $2,500 prize, and his winning film will be screened at the Directors Guild of America theater in Los Angeles on June 18.

The film, “Legend Has It: The Remarkable Rise of Stephen McCain,” was created in Professor John C. Aliano’s VID 216 Documentary II class at CSN’s North Las Vegas Campus.

“The DGA let him know this is the first time a community college has won the award,” said Aliano, who plans to attend the June 18 screening alongside Johnson.

The DGA Student Film Awards have spotlighted emerging talent for more than 30 years, with a focus on underrepresented directors including African American, Asian American, Latino and women filmmakers. Past winners have gone on to notable directing careers, including Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther”), Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”) and Steven Caple Jr. (“Creed II”).

Johnson’s win adds to an already impressive run for the film. “Legend Has It” has earned recognition at multiple festivals and Student Emmy Awards, including Best Student Film at the DOCUTAH International Film Festival.