“The Guild is honored to recognize these talented young directors through the DGA Student Film Awards,” said Michael Apted, president of the Guild.  “We are committed to spotlighting promising new talent and encouraging diversity in the entertainment industry.  We look forward to seeing what our awardees do next.”

BEST AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT FILMMAKER:

East Coast:

• Winner: Ryan Carmichael of University of Michigan for Everything’s New in Lost Time
• Honorable Mention: Nikyatu Jusu of NYU for African Booty Scratcher 

West Coast:

• Winner: Joe Doughrity of Columbia College Hollywood for Akira's Hip Hop Shop
• Honorable Mention: Chris Cloyd of USC for Coons
  

BEST ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENT FILMMAKER:

East Coast:

• Winner: Z. Eric Yang of Florida State University for The State of Sunshine
• Honorable Mention: Clarissa De Los Reyes of NYU for Giving Care 

West Coast

• Winner: Juli Kang of UCLA for Damn the Past!
• Honorable Mention: Roland Nguyen of USC for Blood Debts
  

BEST LATINO STUDENT FILMMAKER:

East Coast:

• Winner: Daniel Eduvijes Carrera of Columbia University for Primera Comunion
• Honorable Mention: Jonathan Roessler of Columbia University for First Period 

West Coast:

• Winner: Vero Shamo-Garcia of USC for Limpiando Sapos
• Honorable Mention: Miguel Alvarez of University of Texas at Austin for Kid

BEST WOMAN STUDENT FILMMAKER:

East Coast:

• Winner: Jesse Pilkes of North Carolina School of the Arts for Nest of Spiders
• Honorable Mention: Catherine Rehwinkel of Florida State University for Mia               

West Coast:

• Winner: Nicole Haeusser of UCLA for The Death Strip
• Honorable Mention: Thouly Dosios of UCLA for House of the Olive Trees

The competing films were made in the 2006/2007 school year and produced as a student project under the supervision of a faculty member. Dramas, comedies and documentaries were all eligible — animated and experimental films were not. Applicants had to be enrolled in, or be a recent graduate from an accredited post-secondary institution in California or DGA-selected university offering a degree in film or television. Eligible films were those in which students held every major crew position.

The West Coast award-winning films were screened and the awards presented on Wednesday, November 14, at DGA Headquarters, in Los Angeles. The East Coast award-winning films will be screened and the awards presented on Thursday, December 6, 2007 at DGA Headquarters in New York.