Congratulations to all our filmmakers and award winners at Mason Film Festival Spring 2015
This year's three-day program in the Johnson Center Cinema offered films from Beginning Video, Intermediate directing work in fiction, and Senior Films. Senior films are the culmination and capstone for Film and Video Studies majors in the BA for students with Video Production and Screenwriting Concentrations.
Our Senior Program is juried by a panel of filmmaking professionals, film scholars, and enthusiasts, including members of our FAVS Advisory Board and affiliated faculty. The jury awarded prizes to students in Fiction Comedy, Fiction Drama, Documentary, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Sound Design, and Best of Fest.
Best of Fest Nonfiction, Best Documentary, and Best Editing
Cafe Kreyol by Scott Cooper (trailer) A short film about "Coffee Hunter" and former drug addict Joey Stazzone as he travels throughout Central America to aid coffee farmers. (12 mins)
Best of Fest Fiction and Best Comedy
Rudy Snoodles by Conor Kyle In a "Muppets Show"-style world, an aging actor attempts to reconnect with his former costar. (15 mins)
Best Drama
A New Chapter by Jason Cortez (trailer) A drama in which Ava must land a job in order to pay for her mother's medical treatment. Starring Jackie Mass, Jenny Howard, and Nerissa Hart. (9 mins) See Instagram site.
Best Experimental
Jihad: A Self-Love Story by Sumayyah Al-Shingieti
Sumayya decides to show her struggle with identity in a documentary. Overwhelmed by circumstances, she enters a surreal state, torn between past and present. (9 mins)
Best Cinematography
Finding Annabel by Micayla Charles Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's Annabel Lee. (7 mins)
Best Production Design
Unbearably Fierson by Chris Lancashire A once great theater director is invited by his estranged daughter for an urgent announcement. Starring Scott Blamphin, Alex Galloway, Chelsea Townsend, and Joshua Craig. (15 mins)
Best Sound Design
Summer's Long Vacation by Rob Whitt (trailer) A whimsical story about an unmotivated teenager named Summer who feels he doesn't get the respect he deserves from his family. Starring Tommy Wheatley, John C. Bailey, Pamela Nash, Jennifer O'Neill, Rafaela Pinillos, and Derek Hills. (15 mins)
Special Jury Award
Apocalypse Cal by Evan McLeese A mockumentary about a right-wing doomsday prepper named Cal, who becomes convinced that the world will end the day after filming begins. Starring Robert Pavlock, Meghan Feeley, and Lawrence Derx. (15 mins)
Audience Award Winners
Block 1 - Summer's Long Vacation by Rob Whitt
Block 2 - El Guapo by Brendan Gottlieb A wild animated adventure featuring the dashingly handsome Guapo. (4 mins)
Block 3 - Rudy Snoodles by Conor Kyle
And looking ahead to next year, congratulations to our Pitch Award Winners
Best Digital Pitch - Ilia Fouladvand
Best Story Pitch - Chloe Sanders
Best Pitch Delivery - Alex Galloway
Best Documentary Pitch - Omar Amalou
Best Story Pitch - Chloe Sanders
Best Pitch Delivery - Alex Galloway
Best Documentary Pitch - Omar Amalou
Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible:
Film and Video Studies (FAVS), Film and Media Studies (FAMS), the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), Delta Kappa Alpha (DKA), the Film and Video Studies Advisory Board, and Rebekah Mejorado, FAVS Program Coordinator and FAMS Events Coordinator.
#filmreveals
April 21, 2015