July 22, 2002
Directors Guild of America National Vice President Ed Sherin today announced the winners of the Eighth Annual DGA East Coast Student Filmmakers Award.
The prestigious award brings prizes of $2,500 to the winner in each of the following categories: Best African-American Student Filmmaker, Best Asian-American Student Filmmaker, Best Latino Student Filmmaker, and Best Woman Student Filmmaker.
"The DGA East Coast Student Film Awards provide the Guild with the opportunity to honor, encourage and bring attention to emerging director talent," Sherin said in announcing the four individuals receiving the award.
The 2002 winners, selected by an international panel of 12 distinguished DGA member judges, are:
- Best African-American Student Filmmaker: PHIL BERTELSEN - The Sunshine - New York University
- Best Asian-American Student Filmmaker: KAZUO OHNO - For Our Man - Columbia University
- Best Latino Student Filmmaker: LEON SIMINIANI - Dos Mas - Columbia University
- Best Woman Student Filmmaker: LIAT DAHAN - Climbing Miss Sophie - New York University
"These four individuals exemplify the best in student filmmaking, and their work demonstrates that talent, vision and ability are not limited by either race or gender," said DGA President Martha Coolidge. “We look forward to seeing more of their work in the future.”
The award-winning films will be shown at an invitation-only screening on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Directors Guild Theater, 10 West 57th Street, New York.