BHS filmmakers find success at film festivals across the country

Students from the Ballard High School Video Production program have continued their stellar year with successes at national and international film festivals.

Two short films by BHS filmmakers were award winners at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) Awards. The festival featured 214 films from across the country by filmmakers under 21 years of age. The BHS films were stacked against tough competition with many of the works being produced by college students from prestigious schools of film and television including the University of Southern California and New York University.

Song for Anna by Lucy Harstrick, Isaiah Hoban-Halvorsen, Josh Vredevoogd and Kiana Wyld won the Audience Award of the Musical Masterpiece program. The film had previously won the Merit Award from the prestigious YoungArts Organization, and had also been named an Official Selection of the Chicago International Film Festival.

BHS filmmakers also made a splash in the NFFTY’s 48-Hour Film Off, taking out 2nd prize. During this festival event, high school media production programs from across the Puget Sound compete to produce the best short in 48 hours. To make sure that teams do not commence production before the 48 hour time period filmmakers are given a key line of spoken dialogue, a theme, and a prop that must be prominently featured in the short.  This year’s prop was a hydroplane which tested competitors resourcefulness and creativity.

Congratulations to Jonny Cechony, Will Erstad, Simon Gibson-Penrose, Elizabeth Rosario and Raven Two Feathers who represented BHS with their short Just Plane Lucky and nabbed the silver medal.

Just Plane Lucky will screen at the Ballard Film Festival on Friday and Saturday, June 7th and 8th at 7 pm in the Ballard High School auditorium.  Admission is $5 for students and $10 for adults.

Two BHS productions were also been chosen as Official Selections for CineYouth 2014, a presentation of the Chicago International Film Festival.

CineYouth is an annual youth film festival celebrating and showcasing short films made by filmmakers 21 years old and younger from all over the world. Now in its 10th year, CineYouth strives to encourage the talent and accomplishments of young artists and provide them with opportunities to tell their stories, network with other filmmakers and be recognized for their creativity.

Air Pressure, by Coleman Anderson and Leo Pfeifer and Song for Anna, produced by Lucy Harstrick, Isaiah Hoban-Halvorsen, Josh Vredevoogd and Kiana Wyld were screened at the festival last week at Columbia College Chicago.

Congratulations to the all involved in the BHS Video Production program!

Photo courtesy of BHS Video Production.