These were the award winners from the 11rh Annual Revere Film Festival.
PHOTO: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
The 11th Annual Paul Revere Film Festival was held on May 16 continuing an event that was started by a former parent, Lisa Robbins, to allow students a chance to tell a story.
Annually awards are given in six categories: 1) live action, 2) animation, 3) documentary, 4) music video, 5) public service announcement and 6) commercial. Judges pick 1st, 2nd and third place in each category.
“I continue to volunteer with the festival because I love helping students bring their creative talents to the big screen,” said organizer Susan Fitzer. “The event provides a wonderful opportunity for our Paul Revere community to come together and celebrate the art of storytelling through film.”
On the night of the event, filmmakers walk the red carpet and view their creativity on the big screen. Every student who enters a film, receives a gift and raffle baskets this year were donated by Warner Brothers, Family Guy, American Dad, Sony Pictures Animation, DreamWorks Animation and Skydance Media.
A few years ago, “we introduced the Lisa Robins Spirit of the Festival Award,” Fitzer said, noting that the award is chosen by us volunteers and “we usually award it to the film we feel embodies the Spirit of Paul Revere. We love picking it each year.”
This year that award went to Always Look For The Helpers, which was created by Mr. Wechsler’s Yearbook Class.
LIVE ACTION AWARDS:
“Invisa Man Goes Wrong” was done by directors Ali and Jalil Jackson and Nahum Mulu.
PHOTO: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
First Place went to Imaginary Friend directed by Pugliese Schwartz. Second went to Invisa Man Goes Wrong and third to Mark Williams Falls Back, Directed by Austin Geiger and Peter McCarthy.
“This is the second time I’ve been a judge at The Paul Revere Film Festival and I find it inspiring to watch the creative minds of these students,” said Tia Nolan. “Their imagination is refreshing and it’s a joy to watch their young filmmaker minds at work.”
Nolan is a feature film editor. She began her career in the early 1990’s moving up the ranks from apprentice editor to assistant and finally to editor. She got her big break editing Bewitched (2005) with Nora Ephron and from there she built a career in comedies with films like Friends with Benefits (2011), Annie (2014), How To Be Single (2016), I Feel Pretty (2018), Superintelligence (2020) and Thunder Force (2021).
MUSIC VIDEO:
I Get Those Tardies Every Time directed by Eli Rokhsar won first; Leave the Door Open ASL, directed by Eli and Logan McCune took second; and You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Mr. Wechsler’s Yearbook and Journalism Classes took third.
Helping to judge music was Fred Coury, who is best known for being the drummer for multi platinum band CINDERELLA for 30 years. He is an award-winning composer for both film and television. In addition, Fred composes music for sporting events and arenas, including all the music for the Los Angeles Kings.
Organizer Fitzer said, “We try to get judges from different entertainment industry disciplines each year, but Fred Coury loves it so much, he has asked to do it every year. So Fred has been a judge for the last 9 years!”
Also judging this year was Aaron Kenny is an Australian Film and Theater composer based in New York City. He is a music assistant to Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken. He has had the pleasure of working on the songs and scores to the live-action Beauty And The Beast, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid, as well as working with Stephen Schwartz on the score to Wicked – Part One.
DOCUMENTARY AWARDS :
Marina del Ray was the subject for Aaron Goldberg, Sandro Prilusky and Gabe Smith.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
In first place was Alpacas! that was directed by Austin Geiger, taking second was Marina del Ray directed by three students Aaron Goldberg, Sandro Prilusky and Gabe Smith. Third place this year went to Palisades Fire Documentary directed by GG Bostic.
Another judge was Jana Sue Memel is Executive Vice President of Schools of Entertainment at the Academy of Art University, where she also teaches screenwriting, and directing. Films Jana has produced have won three Oscars and have received an additional eight Academy Award nominations. She has produced, written, and/or directed over a hundred short films, thirty feature-length films, documentaries and television.
ANIMATION:
Director Emma Mack with actresses Zoe Milam and Olive Milam.
PHOTO: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
First place went to A Cool School Movie directed by Emma Mack, second went to How Spicy Food Takes Effect on Your Body by Melanie Lee and third was a movie directed by August Brancato called Schrodinger’s Terms & Conditions.
“All the submissions showed so much creativity and inventiveness. Their uncensored joy in storytelling inspired me!” said Brian Pimental a long-time animation veteran whose credits include The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, A Goofy Movie, Tarzan, Enchanted, Bambi 2, Lego 2 and most recently Spellbound and Flink’s Pigeon Problems.
Also judging was Lisa L. Silver a mom and a seasoned animation feature film editor. She has been working in film editing for 35 years honed her storytelling skills while editing shorts and feature films during her first 15 years at Walt Disney Animation (Emperor’s New Groove, Mulan 2, Cinderella 3, Winnie the Pooh, various Tinkerbell projects and the Academy Award winning Paperman).
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
Austin Geiger PHOTO: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
In first was Teach Resilience, directed by Austin Geiger. Second place went to Don’t Trash Revere by Mr. Vial’s Screenwriting and Film Making Class. Third place Exercise Is Important directed by Brianna Reyes.
More judges include Phillip J. Bartell and Lori Korngeibel. Bartell, ACE, has edited a number of films and television series, including Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, Disney’s Haunted Mansion, To All The Boys I Loved Before, Bad Hair, and Dear White People.
Korngeibel is an Emmy Award winning producer with 30 years’ experience and has worked on Disney’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Lilo & Stitch and Dreamworks Animation’s Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon. Her other Animation credits include the Oscar Winning “Spirited Away.” Her live action films include Armageddon, Maleficent, Cruella, and Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion.” She has also produced several documentaries such as Disney+’s Waking Sleeping Beauty and Howard.
COMMERCIAL
Glacier Water directed by Ethan Nedjati took first; Drop Stop directed by Eli Rokhsar was second; and third went to 3 Reasons Why To Go To Italy, directed by Ariana Zolfahari.
Judge Gabe Sachs is a writer and producer who has worked on many television projects including Freaks & Geeks, Just Shoot Me, Undeclared, Life As We know it, 90210 and The Night Shift. He co-wrote the feature films Diary of A Wimpy Kid and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. Sachs is an alumnus of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. His creative partner is writer/director Jeff Judah with whom he co-owns Sachs/Judah Productions.
CONGRATULATIONS to all who entered the 11th Annual Paul Revere Film Festival, clearly the creators of our future entertainment pleasures. When will the reel be released to the public? Popcorn is already popping.