Today The Directors Guild of America announced the winners of the 2015 DGA Student Film Awards for African American, Asian American, Latino and Women directors. The awards are designed to honor, encourage and bring attention to exceptional diverse directors in film schools and select universities across the country. Kiel Adrian Scott’s NYU thesis film Samaria received a Student Film Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in the African American Category!
“It is a true honor to bring attention to this extraordinary group of filmmakers through the 21st Annual DGA Student Film Awards,” said DGA President Paris Barclay. “Highlighting emerging talent is an important part of the DGA’s ongoing commitment to diversity and we look forward to following the careers of this promising group of directors.”
The DGA Student Film Awards have highlighted dozens of African-American, Asian-American, Latino and Women filmmakers over the years. A number of past winners have gone on to enjoy successful directing careers, including:
- John M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation; Justin Bieber: Never Say Never; The LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers; Step Up 3D)
- Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed)
- Nicole Kassell (The Following; The Killing; The Americans; Suits; The Closer; Cold Case; The Woodsman)
- Patricia Riggen (The 33; Lemonade Mouth; Under the Same Moon)
- Sylvain White (Hawaii Five-0; Person of Interest; Covert Affairs; CSI: Miami; Stomp the Yard)
Photo: Kiel accepting D.G.A. Student Film Award. (left) Kiel celebrating with Samaria star Demetrius Grosse at the D.G.A. THeater in New York (right)
On December 10, DGA members and their guests attended ceremonies for the 21st Annual DGA Student Film Awards in the Guild’s New York Theater. These awards are designed to honor, encourage and bring attention to outstanding African American, Asian American, Latino and Women Filmmakers in film schools and select universities across the country.
The ceremony began with a welcome message and introductions from DGA National Vice President Vincent Misiano. Following a screening of clips from the Jury Award-winning films, Director Marilyn Agrelo presented the certificates of achievement to Asian American Jury Award recipient Yingxiang Huang of Florida State University (Isa and the Frog Prince), Latino Jury Award recipient Clara Roquet of Columbia University (El Adios), African American Jury Award recipient Alcee H. Walker of The School of Visual Arts (Inferno), and Woman Jury Award recipient Clara Maria Diez of Florida State University (A Skeleton Named Oliver).
DGA Alternate Board Member Gary Donatelli presented the trophies to Latino Student Filmmaker Award-winner Michael Molina Minard of Columbia University (Standing8) and Asian American Student Filmmaker Award-winner Saad Nawab of Florida State University (Frankenstein’s Light).The final presentations were made by Director Martha Mitchell who handed out the awards to African American Student Filmmaker Award winner Kiel Adrian Scott of NYU (Samaria) and Woman Student Filmmaker Award winner Federica Gianni of Columbia University (The Friend from Tel Aviv).
The presentations were followed by screenings of the winning short films and a reception.
The winners of each category received a prize of $2,500 from the DGA and the Jury Award recipients received an award of $1,000. The winners were selected by blue ribbon panels comprised of DGA members.
For more information on the award please visit: http://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2015/151110-DGA-Announces-Winners-Of-21st-Annual-Student-Film-Awards.aspx
