05.24.13 | Stacy Brick
Last weekend, students with a passion for filmmaking came together at the Alamo Ritz for the inaugural Austin Youth Film Festival. The event was created by The Khabele School and co-sponsored by Austin Film Festival, Rawson Saunders School and Brokedown Films. Hosted by students from the Khabele School and Rawson Saunders, the sell-out crowd watched 25 films by finalists from high schools and middle schools all over Austin. It was great to watch students from different schools discussing the specifics of filmmaking with each other. “What kind of camera did you use?” and “How many days did you shoot?” were among the questions you could hear circulating in the lobby post screening.
Ten films were selected as winners with seven categories and three special prizes. The panel of guest judges consisted of local filmmakers including Richard Linklater as an honorary judge in the Narrative Comedy, Elizabeth Avellan (producer, SPY KIDS, SIN CITY), Ya’Ke Smith (writer/director, HOPE’S WAR), Bryan Poyser (writer/director, THE BOUNCEBACK), Emily Hagins (writer/director, MY SUCKY TEEN ROMANCE), Jason Wehling (producer, THE HAPPY POET), PJ Raval (cinematographer/director, THE BOUNCEBACK), Hanan Townshend (composer, THE TREE OF LIFE), Robin Schwarz (producer, editor, actor, AMERICA’S PARKING LOT), and Heather Kafka (actress, Friday Night Lights).
Congratulations to the winners:
Best Screenplay – Quentin Easterwood-Livingston – Garza HS – DOORS
Narrative Drama – Vivienne Miller – Garza HS -DINNER WITH THE CROCKERS
Narrative Comedy – Alli Clarke – Garza HS- HAROLD GORDON AND THE QUICKSILVER CONUNDRUM
Short Short – Eve Pearson – Rawson Saunders – BREYER
Documentary – Roselyn Gray – The Khabele School – ART IS LIFE
Music Video – Maia Madel & Gemma Smith -The Khabele School – WELCOME HOME
Experimental – Ruth Black, Ruan Visser, Emmett Griffin-Baldwin, Luke Ferony and Faith Brasher – Rawson Saunders – FOUR CLASSROOMS
Best Actor – Nick Vincent – Garza HS – HAROLD GORDON AND THE QUICKSILVER CONUNDRUM
Best Cinematography – Skye Alexander – Garza HS – DINNER WITH THE CROCKERS
Best Use of Music – Jackson Barnes – The Khabele School – SCHOOL SUX
The films produced by Garza High School are the product of AFF’s Digital Storytelling program. The program aims to improve students’ reading, writing, communication, media technology and idea-expression skills through hands-on screenwriting and filmmaking.
Thanks to all the filmmakers who submitted to and attended the AYFF, we look forward to seeing your work next year.