Student Filmmakers Showcase Their Skills in BMCC Festival

Student Filmmakers
Student winners of the Spring 2023 BMCC Film Festival

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.

From A Frogman Story by Beck Lamming
From “A Frogman Story-Tinder” by Becky Lamming

“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:

From "Closing Up Shop" by Julian Baker
From “Closing Up Shop” by Julian Baker

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

From "Get Along Lil Doggie" by Sally Weitzner
From “Get Along Lil Doggie” by Sally Weitzner

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

Actor Caterina Misasi in "Sacramentum"
Actor Caterina Misasi in “Sacramentum”

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”

From "Fee" edited by Logan Berg
From “Fée” edited by Logan Berg

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

  • The Spring 2023 BMCC 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.

  • A panel of industry experts in filmmaking judged the entries across many genres.

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