DGA members and their guests attended ceremonies for the 24th Annual DGA Student Film Awards. These Awards are designed to honor, encourage and bring attention to outstanding women and ethnically diverse film students at select universities across the country.
24th Annual DGA Student Film Awards in Los Angeles
The West Coast DGA Student Film Awards ceremony was held at the Guild’s theater complex in Los Angeles on December 4. The event began with an introductory message from DGA Executive in Charge of Diversity Programs and Committees Frank Bennett Gonzalez, who spoke about the Guild’s continuing commitment to diversity and inclusion and how these awards were just a part of that mission. Gonzalez then turned the proceedings over to DGA Student Film Awards Committee Chair Gil Cates, Jr., who spoke about the history of these awards and thanked all those who contributed to the success of this program. Associate Director Betty A. Petitt served as the evening’s voice-over announcer.
After a screening of clips from the jury prize winning short films, Cates presented the certificates of achievement to: African American category jury award-recipient Andrew Reid of USC for ASIA A, Asian American category jury award-recipient Lin Sun of Art Center College of Design for AI-Pocalypse, Latino category jury award-recipient Victor Alonso-Berbel of USC for Perfectly Natural and Women’s category jury award-recipient Dilek Ince of CSUN for Amal.
After a screening of her winning short film Lalo’s House, Women’s category award-winner Kelley Kali of USC took home the first award which was presented by Director/Women’s Steering Committee Co-Chair Maria Burton. The award to Asian American category award-winner Sohil Vaidya of USC for his film Difficult People was presented by Director/DGA Asian American Committee Co-Chair Michael Goi. Director Jeff Byrd presented the award to African American category award-winner Rachel Bass of Chapman University after a screening of her winning film Thicker than Water. And Latino category award-winner Brian Robau of Chapman University took home the final prize of the evening for his film, Esta es tu Cuba, which was presented by Director Edward Ornelas.
The ceremony was preceded by a reception in the DGA Atrium.
24th Annual DGA Student Film Awards in New York
The East Coast DGA Student Film Awards ceremony was held at the Guild’s New York Theater on December 7. The evening began with a welcome message and introductions from DGA Eastern Diversity Steering Committee (EDSC) Co-Chair Joyce Thomas.
Following a screening of clips from the Jury Award-winning film, Rock and a Hard Place, Eastern Directors Council Focus on Women Committee (FOW) member and Student Film Awards judge Sarah Pirozek presented the certificate of achievement to Samantha Geis of Savannah College of Art and Design, who was the sole recipient of this year’s East Coast jury awards. EDSC member and Student Film Awards judge Glenna Meeks presented the award to African American category award-winner Rashad Frett of New York University for his short film, K.I.N.G. Director/Columbia University faculty member Hilary Brougher presented the award to Asian American category award-winner Chieh Yang of Columbia University for Tail End of the Year. Director and Student Film Awards Judge Gary Donatelli presented the award to Latino category award-winner Victoria Rivera of Columbia University for Verde. And FOW member and Student Film Awards judge Maggie Greenwald presented the award to Women’s category award-winner Paola Ossa of Montclair University for Catalina.
Followed screenings of the winning short films, DGA Assistant Executive Director Mary Hatch stepped to the podium to speak about the Guild’s ongoing fight for diversity and inclusion, and invite all the attendees to the reception in the lobby.
About the DGA Student Film Awards
The DGA Student Film Awards have highlighted dozens of African American, Asian American, Latino and Women filmmakers over the years. A number of past winners have gone on to enjoy successful directing careers, including:
- Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians; G.I. Joe: Retaliation; Justin Bieber: Never Say Never; The LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers; Step Up 3D)
- Ryan Coogler (Black Panther; Creed; Fruitvale Station)
- Nicole Kassell (Brooklyn; Westworld; The Following, The Leftovers; The Americans; Suits; The Woodsman; A Little Bit of Heaven)
- Patricia Riggen (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan; Miracles from Heaven; The 33; Lemonade Mouth)
- Sylvain White (Magnum P.I.; Station 19; The Rookie; The Americans; Slender Man, MacGyver, Hawaii Five-O)
Eligible films were made in the 2017/2018 school year (September 2017 through August 2018), and produced as a student project under the supervision of a faculty member – with students holding every major crew position. Dramas, comedies and documentaries are all eligible – animated and experimental films are not eligible. Applicants must be enrolled in, or be a recent (within one year) graduate from an accredited post-secondary institution in California or DGA-selected university offering a degree in film or television.