The presentation ceremonies for the 30th Annual DGA Student Film Awards were held in the Guild’s Los Angeles Theater on December 17, and the DGA New York Theater on December 18. The awards were created three decades ago by the DGA’s National Board to address the severe underrepresentation of Directors of color and women in feature filmmaking by honoring, encouraging and bringing attention to exceptional diverse Directors in film schools and universities across the country.
To date, the program has grown to encompass over 200 schools nationwide, including historically black colleges and universities, and is a hallmark of the DGA’s efforts to recognize the talents of emerging women and people of color, supporting their entrance into the film industry and eventually into the Guild.
Los Angeles Ceremony:
The Los Angeles event on December 17 began with a welcome from DGA Associate National Executive Director/Western Executive Director Rebecca Rhine who said, “These awards are one of the places we seek to elevate directorial talent and eliminate disparities through the thoughtful and thorough vetting process facilitated by our membership. With past Student Film Award winners like Ryan Coogler, Patricia Riggin and Jon M. Chu – we see repeatedly how recognizing the talent of future DGA members only serves to strengthen the directorial craft. We hope this recognition is the first of many acknowledgements along your path as a successful Director.”
Before passing the baton to DGA Student Film Awards Committee Chair Gil Cates Jr., Rhine acknowledged the work of the Committee and its members, Directors Abdul Malik Abbott, Henry Chan, A.P. Gonzalez and Associate Director Betty Petitt, and presented them all with a token of the Guild’s appreciation for their service.
Taking the stage, Committee Chair Cates, Jr., said, “The Guild stands proud to offer a platform to support young women and filmmakers of color at a pivotal time in their careers. This is just part of the Guild’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. We have seen the impact of storytelling on our society when underrepresented voices are given space to tell stories; today we celebrate your unique perspectives and how they enhance our view and understanding of the world around us.”
After taking a moment to honor the memories of DGA Past President Gene Reynolds, who created the Student Film Awards, and Director Carl Weathers, who for years served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event, Cates welcomed this year’s Master of Ceremonies LeVar Burton to begin the presentations.
Addressing the West Region Jury Award receivers, Burton said, “These five filmmakers stood out as exceptional to our members and we are thrilled to recognize them tonight.”
Following a screening of clips from each of the Jury Award noted short films, Burton handed out the certificates to West Region Jury Award recipients: Grace Hanna of American Film Institute in the Asian American category for Lola; Kimberly Caicedo of American Film Institute in the Latino category for Francis; MC Plaschke of American Film Institute in the Women’s category for We Met at Camp; Sarah Enriquez of Moorpark College in the Documentary category for Inside: America’s Teaching Zoo; and presented in memory of Student Film Awards Committee Member Reginald D. Brown, Kira Powell of American Film Institute in the African American category for Best Eyes.
After screenings of each of the winning short films, the awards were presented to the Directors of the category winners, each of whom were able to speak briefly about the making of their projects. DGA Fifth Vice President, Millicent Shelton presented the award to the West Region African American category-winner, Britt Williams of American Film Institute for Behold a Lady. Director Chris Tashima presented the award to the West Region Asian American category-winner, Robin Wang of University of Southern California for Neither Donkey Nor Horse. Director Aurora Guerrero presented the award to the West Region Latino category-winner, Juan Zuloaga Eslait of Chapman University for Before the Winter. Director Shaz Bennett presented the award to the West Region Women’s category-winner, Kateryna Kurganska of University of Southern California for Two Breaths. Director Matt Tyrnauer presented the award to the West Region Documentary category-winner, Wubetu Shimelash of University of Southern California for Shepherd’s Calling.
Burton closed out the ceremony by again congratulating all the winners and jury award recipients and thanking all the presenters for taking the time to be part of the event.
New York Ceremony:
The New York event on December 18 began with a greeting from DGA Assistant Secretary-Treasurer and former Focus on Women Committee Co-Chair Joyce Thomas, who welcomed the attending DGA members, winning students and their guests to the Student Film Awards ceremony.
“To date, the Awards has recognized over 300 emerging filmmakers,” said Thomas. “Past recipients have gone on to direct as varied productions as The Chi, Queen Sugar, Tales of the City, Fargo, Black Panther, The Umbrella Academy, Empire, Squid Game and Wicked. Today’s nominees follow the footsteps of Channing Godfrey Peoples, Jon M. Chu, Nicole Kassell, Ryan Coogler and Patricia Riggen.”
Thomas explained how the competition includes five categories: African American, Asian American, Latino, Women, and Documentary Directors, and how DGA member panels review the submissions and select the winning films and the Jury Awards recipients. She then welcomed a former Student Film Award recipient, Director Joan Stein Schimke, to present the certificates to the Jury Award recipients.
After a screening of clips from the jury award-winning short films, Schimke presented the certificates of achievement to the winners: African American category jury award-recipient Ben Locke of Boston University for Taper; Asian American category jury award-recipient Lucas Manuel-Scheibe of New York University for Rope; Latino category jury award-recipient Marco Greco of University of North Carolina School of the Arts for Clocked-Out; Women’s category jury award-recipient Colleen Ryan of Savannah College of Art and Design for El Alma de la Sed; and Documentary category jury award-recipient Gabriel Ponte Fleary of Rochester Institute of Technology for Un Viaje de Fe (A Journey of Faith).
Director Li Lu presented the award to the East Region African American category-winner, Mirta Desir of City University of New York (CUNY) – Brooklyn College for Jean & I and to the East Region Asian American category-winner, Nadine Jin of Columbia University for Juk. Director Eif Rivera presented the award to the East Region Documentary category-winner, Christine An of Boston University for Timeless Voices and to the East Region Latino category-winner, Almendra Kovac Akel of Ringling College of Art & Design for ROT [which was accepted on Akel’s behalf by the film’s Producer Alejandra Cintron Rivera]. Focus on Women Committee Co-Chair Ellen Athena Catsikeas presented the award to the East Region Women’s category-winner, Ella McKenzie of University of Michigan for Nerd Association.
Following the screenings of the winning short films, DGA Assistant Executive Director Mary Hatch spoke about the Guild’s ongoing fight for diversity and inclusion, thanked everyone for attending and said, “It’s a hallmark of our efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in filmmaking, to recognize the talents of women and people of color, and to support these filmmakers’ entrance into the industry and eventually into the DGA.”
About the Student Film Awards
The DGA Student Film Awards have highlighted dozens of African American, Asian American, Latino and Women filmmakers over the past 30 years.
Winners who have gone on to enjoy successful directing careers include:
- Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II; Grown-ish; Rapture; The Land)
- Jon M. Chu (In the Heights; Home Before Dark; Crazy Rich Asians; Now You See Me 2)
- Ryan Coogler (Black Panther; Creed; Fruitvale Station)
- Rashaad Ernesto Green (Premature; The Chi; Looking for Alaska; Luke Cage)
- Nicole Kassell (Watchmen; Castlerock; Westworld; The Americans)
- Patricia Riggen (Surveillance; Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan; Miracles from Heaven; The 33)
- Sylvain White (The Rookie; Fargo; The Umbrella Academy; Amazing Stories)
Eligible films must be made in the 2023/2024 school year (September 2023 through August 2024) and produced as a student project under the supervision of a faculty member. Animated films, experimental films, commercials, music videos and webisodes are not eligible. Applicants must be enrolled in or be a recent (one-year) graduate from, an accredited post-secondary institution located in the United States and selected by the DGA. Eligible films are those in which students hold every major crew position.