Students, Recent Grads Win Top Honors at Rough Cut Film Festival

June 27, 2016

 

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Still from "First Kiss" by Dre Reed BFA '16 (Animation)

Several University of the Arts Animation, Film + Video and Writing for Film + Television students and recent graduates received top honors at this year’s Rough Cut Film Festival, a showcase for filmmakers under the age of 25 held June 13-20.

Chosen by a panel of industry professionals, winners in the university division included Best Documentary for “Asphalt Cowboy” by Tyler Larm BFA ’16 (Film + Video); Best Narrative and Best Actress (Jessie Jordan) for “White/Wash” by Isaiah Freeman BFA ’16 (Film + Video); and Best Archival Footage Honorable Mention for "Recollection" by Mary-Olivia Kram BFA ’16 (Writing for Film + Television).

Larm’s work was also nominated for Best Editing, while Freeman’s piece earned nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Direction. Kram's film made the Experimental short list.

Other university nominees included “First Kiss” by Dre Reed BFA ’16 (Animation) for Best Animation; “A Just Man” by Chasyah Scott BFA ’16 (Film + Video) for Best Actor (Matthew Brent) and short-listed for Best Narrative; “Keeping Time” by Andrea Parmelee ’17 (Film + Video) and Caitlin Riggsbee BFA ’16 (Film + Video) for Best Documentary; and “XX” by Sadie Hopkins BFA ’16 (Film + Video), which was short-listed for Best Narrative.

High school-aged filmmakers competed for best film in narrative, documentary and experimental categories, with first place winners receiving $48,000 scholarships and runners-up receiving $24,000 scholarships to UArts.

Writing for Film + Television Senior Lecturer David Greenberg participated in the festival’s “Making a Feature” panel titled “Yes You Can! Creative Approaches to Independent Filmmaking.” Greenberg’s film “Stomping Ground,” which was filmed in 24 hours, was used a case study in how to approach pre-production, production and post strategies for making a feature without a budget or indefinite time.

The Rough Cut Film Festival is designed to develop a vertical film community within the Philadelphia region by showcasing original films from high school, university, fellow nonprofit media creation programs and Philly-based independent filmmakers under the age of 25. Social gatherings, live performances, hands-on workshops and panel discussions led by industry personalities complimented screenings at venues throughout the city.