May 11, 2023
The Spring 2023 Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) Film Festival, organized by the college’s Cinema Arts Club, was held Friday, May 5 in BMCC’s Theatre 2.
Sixty-two films were submitted and 37 of those were selected for the competitive section. The festival also included a non-competitive 2D and 3D animation showcase which included 18 short films.
“Every semester, we have this festival and each time we screen the new batch of films, I am amazed at the creativity, technical expertise and thoughtful editing they reflect,” says documentary filmmaker and Media Arts and Technology Professor Anastassios Rigopoulos. “All the films were produced by BMCC students, most of them majoring in either Video Arts and Technology, Animation and Motion Graphics, or Multimedia Programming and Design. Genres represented in the festival included documentary, fiction, experimental, found-footage, 2D and 3D animation, commercial, PSA and multi-camera studio TV production.”
Professor Rigopoulos adds that student winners of the BMCC film festival often go on to compete in national and international film competitions. “This is excellent experience for them, as they build their film careers,” he says.
The festival judges were Demián Barba, cinematographer; Xiaoxiao Chen, film editor and Carla Franchesca Robles, documentary filmmaker and BMCC alumna.
The BMCC student winners are as follows:
The Michael Vincent Rosen Pipitone Foundation Rising Star Award
Becky Lamming, Cinema Arts Club Vice-President
Best Fiction Film
“Sacramentum” by Korie Tristan Prince
Best Documentary
“Mirella” by Robert Zapata
Honorable Mention: “Fée” by Logan Berg
Best Commercial or Public Service Announcement (PSA)
“A. Frogman Story-Tinder” by Becky Lamming
Best Experimental Film, Found-Footage Montage or Multicamera Production
“Montage” by Santiago N. Pineda Layton
Best Animated Film
“Get Along Lil Doggie” by Sally Weitzner
Honorable Mention: “Foreign Contaminant” by Renzo Esposito
Best Cinematography
“Closing Up Shop” by Julian Baker
Best Sound
“Sacramentum”by Korie Tristan Prince
Best Directing
“Sacramentum” by Korie Tristan Prince and “Très Chic” by Renzo Esposito
Best Screenplay
“Sacramentum” by Korie Tristan Prince
Best Acting
Best actress: Caterina Misasi for “Sacramentum”
Best actor: Kevin Seise for “The Detective”
Best Editing
Logan Berg for “Fée”
Honorable mention: Korie Tristan Prince for “Sacramentum”
To learn more about the BMCC Media Arts and Technology associate degree programs including Animation and Motion Graphics, Multimedia Programming and Design and Video Arts and Technology, stop by 199 Chambers Street, Room S-622, or call (212) 346-8525.
The BMCC student film festival supports BMCC’s strategic goals including Strategic Goal #3: Integrate career development throughout the student experience
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
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The Spring 2023 BMCC Film Festival, organized by the college’s Cinema Arts Club, was held Friday, May 5 in BMCC’s Theatre 2.
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Sixty-two films were submitted and 37 of those were selected for the competitive section. The festival also included a non-competitive 2D and 3D animation showcase which included 18 short films.
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A panel of industry experts in filmmaking judged the entries across many genres.
