OFFICIAL SELECTION 2022

LIVE SCREENING - NOVEMBER 15, 2022 - DOLBY Hollywood Vine

Not Just A Name (USA)

DIRECTOR: De’Onna “Tree” Young-Stephens

BEST STUDENT DOCUMENTARY FILM

BEST PRODUCER OF THE STUDENT FILM – Madeline Gamero

ABOUT THE FILM:

Not Just a Name explores the stigma and racial bias experienced by African-Americans with unique sounding names, as well as the historical origin of these names in America.

Student Academy Awards – Winner Domestic Documentary

Guide On (USA)

DIRECTOR: Paige Compton

BEST US STUDENT FILM

ABOUT THE FILM:

Guide On is the story of a young woman’s quest to be extraordinary, inspired by true events.

On her first day of basic training, Halle Varro, a young Army recruit, stands out among her peers as she competes to be the guidon bearer. Halle’s attitude of defiance and winning at all costs puts her in Drill Sergeant Mallett’s crosshairs. Can Halle rise to the challenge and become the first female guidon bearer?

Off-season (Poland)

DIRECTOR: Monika Majorek

BEST STUDENT FILM

ABOUT THE FILM:

„Off-season” tells a story about fourteen-year-old Adam, who lives in a holiday resort by the sea, that is run by his parents. When a mysterious, mature Woman arrives to the resort, Adam becomes immediately captivated by her. Spying on her slowly turns into an obsession, which makes him explore his sexuality. While trying to grow up, Adam rebels against his parents who still perceive him as a small child. The movie touches on the subjects of coming-of-age, love, but also family and its disintegration while facing non-easy actions.

Soothsayin’ Saloon (USA)

DIRECTOR: Abby Fitzgerald

BEST STUDENT ANIMATION FILM

ABOUT THE FILM:

A frustrated cowboy bursts into the Soothsayin’ Saloon, demanding to know who hung up his wanted poster. The local soothsayer asks why he’s bothered by it, and in a show of arrogance the cowboy insists he’ll never get caught. With a smirk and a song, the coy soothsayer then launches into a bait-and-switch musical number about the likelihood of his future taking a sharp turn for the worse.

It’s magic, mayhem, and mischief all in one rapid-fire round of western flair!

Where The Bird Goes (USA)

DIRECTOR: Troy Charbonnet

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER OF THE STUDENT FILM – Zhili “Evan” Feng

ABOUT THE FILM:

A young couple is forced to confront their declining mental health after the disappearance of their pet bird.

ASC 2022 Student Heritage Award – DOP: Zhili “Evan” Feng

Kissy And The Shark (USA)

DIRECTOR: Lola Blanche

BEST DIRECTOR OF THE STUDENT FILM

ABOUT THE FILM:

KISSY is an 11 year old girl living on Terminal Island, Los Angeles, navigating a tempestuous relationship with her mother who is terminally ill.

Whilst at the beach she discovers a shark washed up on the plastic littered shore – desperate to gain some control in her life she decides to take it to her family RV to try and revive it.

Eventually her mother and grandmother discover the shark in the bathroom. Together they return the shark to the ocean where Kissy makes an unexpected decision.

BAFTA GSA Commissioning Grant

The Memories of A Song (China)

DIRECTOR: Sibo Zhu

BEST SONG IN THE STUDENT FILM – Zihao Liu & Jing Wen

Love Letter (USA)

DIRECTOR: Veronica Badell

BEST FIRST TIME DIRECTOR

BEST ACTRESS IN THE STUDENT FILM – Claudia Serven

ABOUT THE FILM:

A disparage immigrant must face the reality of her codependency as she pursues her “American Dream.” Risking everything she has ever known, Layla must decide to marry and settle down or take a leap of faith to follow her own path.

Emptiness (Mexico)

DIRECTOR: Eduardo Gallardo

BEST STUDENT EXPERIMENTAL FILM

ABOUT THE FILM:

Suffer, Madness, Illness, Love, Hate. What are we really made of?

Surrounded by the dark, A man experiences visions about the inside and outside of his being as he removes him his “liar faces” which lead him into an introspective struggle that will reveal the true nature of his existence.

In the Corner of My Eye (China)

DIRECTOR: Alicia Gong

BEST YOUNG FILMMAKER (under 18 years old)

ABOUT THE FILM:

Gu struggles to come to terms with his sexuality due to social pressure. He shows his fondness to He Dong in anonymity until one day they were invited to the same party where Gu was forced to make a decision…

Kush: A Bubblegum Western (USA)

DIRECTOR: Anthony Sneed

BEST EDITING OF THE STUDENT FILM – Camilla Bartoli

ABOUT THE FILM:

A relationship gets put to the test when a couple is pulled over while smuggling 25 lbs of marijuana cross country in their trunk.

The Righteous One (Ukraine)

DIRECTOR: Maksym Tuzov

BEST SOUND IN THE STUDENT FILM – Anton Vitrianskii

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE IN THE STUDENT FILM – Alex Goroshko

ABOUT THE FILM:

Based on the book of Job

An honest judge must hand down a fair verdict in the case of a homicidal pedophile, for which he faces dire consequences.

Welcome (USA)

DIRECTORS: Yanglu He, Sia Du

BEST STUDENT MUSIC VIDEO

ABOUT THE FILM:

A lonely, poor little girl was invited by mannequins into a luxury clothing store in the midnight. They offer her free accessories, dress, shoes, and seduce her to take more. But the little girl has no idea what price she need to pay later.

Wherever You Go (USA)

DIRECTORS: Eevin Hartsough, Andrew Beguin

BEST STUDENT WEB/TV SERIES

ABOUT THE FILM:

A pair of acquaintances stick together as they run away from a variety of antagonists.

What lies ahead (Spain)

DIRECTOR: Guillermo Alcalá

BEST YOUNG ACTRESS (under 18 years old) – Gala Bichir

ABOUT THE FILM:

Claudia, a 40-year-old Colombian woman, leaves behind her hometown, Bogotá, to cross the pond for the first time to Spain, specifically to Alicante. There she intends, after almost half a year, to meet her husband and father of her daughter, Ani. As soon as she arrives, she realizes that her partner does not want to know anything about them and she, the only thing she has from her, is her strength and will. Her love for her daughter, among other things, will be what makes her move forward and not give up despite her difficulties.

Stream of Consciousness (USA)

DIRECTOR: Jesse Shore

BEST ACTOR IN THE STUDENT FILM – Caleb Vasquez

ABOUT THE FILM:

Stream of Consciousness follows the first date of Cole and Megan. As the date progresses we watch Cole struggle with his self doubt, personified incessantly through his reflection talking to him. As the date moves forward, Cole’s insecurities put any potential relationship at risk, only to be saved by another surprising voice.