By Erica Blust
Several film majors in the Department of Transmedia were honored recently for their work as filmmakers and writers by national and international film festivals.
“I Remember Ashes,” a film made by senior film majors while studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, received three awards at the 2018 Denver Underground Film Festival: Best Narrative Short, Best Cinematography and Best Child Actress.
In the film, a brother and sister spend a summer day in the hills of the Czech Republic. Graham Turner ’19 served as director, Oriane Playner ’19 served as executive producer and art director, Scott Sweitzer ’19 served as director of photography and Manoli Despines ’19 served as editor. The film was written by Turner and Sweitzer. It will screen at the 2019 Capital City Film Festival in Lansing, Mich., in April.
Sophomore Jennifer Barrett ’21 was invited to screen her film “Pity Party” at the Girl Power Film + Media Summit and Showcase in March in New York City. She received an award for Best Experimental Film.
Barrett created the film in her FIL 221 Cinematic Modes of Production class. In less than two minutes of stop motion, aggressive honesty and kazoo playing, it showcases how young women who enjoy sex are often typecast into certain roles in society that make them feel lesser than others.
Another sophomore, Qicheng Yang ’21, was awarded third place in the Ivy Film Festival’s (IFF) Valentine’s Day Screenplay Competition for his script “The Speech,” which he wrote in his FIL 228 Scriptwriting class.
In “The Speech,” Liam Lancaster, a 16-year-old high school student with stage fright, is chosen to deliver a formal speech. He confides in Ilsa Borowski, who had given a similar speech the year before. Together, the two work closely with each other learning the true meaning of friendship and overcoming adversity.
IFF is the world’s largest student-run film festival, dedicated to showcasing the work of undergraduate filmmakers and screenwriters.