Student
 

DGA Student Film Awards

Each year the Directors Guild of America announces the winners of its annual Student Film Awards for African-American, Asian-American, Latino and women filmmakers. The awards, which bring the winners prizes of $2,500 from the DGA, are designed to honor, encourage and bring attention to outstanding minority and women film students in film schools and other select universities.

The winners in each category are:

2008

AFRICAN AMERICAN:

  • East Coast Winner: William Sutphin of Columbia University
    for Uncle Killa
  • West Coast Winner: Hezekiah Lewis of UCLA
    for Warrior Queen
    • West Coast Honorable Mention: Anthony Onah
      of UCLA for The Cure

ASIAN AMERICAN:

  • East Coast Winner: Wei-Hsin Yang of Columbia University for Passing Fancy
    • West Coast Winner: Ching-Yao Koh of Academy of Art for Overnight, a Rose
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Ross Ching of San Diego State University for The Perfect Frame

    LATINO:

    • East Coast Winner: Marco Garcia of North Carolina School of the Arts for 1915
    • West Coast Winner: Adriana Montenegro of UCLA for From the Core
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Roberto Gudino of University of Arizona for Below the Fold: The Pulitzer that Defined Latino Journalism

    WOMAN STUDENT:

    • East Coast Winner: Elina Fessa of Columbia University for Still Water
    • West Coast Winner: Miranda Yousef of UCLA for Collectibles
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Alexandra Fisher of UCLA for Desert Wedding

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    2007

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

    • West Coast Winner: Joe Doughrity of Columbia College Hollywood for Akira's Hip Hop Shop
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Chris Cloyd of University of Southern California for Coons
    • East Coast Winner: Ryan Carmichael of University of Michigan for Everything's New in Lost Time
      • East Coast Honorable Mention: Nikyatu Jusu of NYU for African Booty Scratcher

    ASIAN-AMERICAN:

    • West Coast Winner: Juli Kang of University of California at Los Angeles for Damn the Past!
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Roland Nguyen of University of Southern California for Blood Debts
    • East Coast Winner: Z. Eric Yang of Florida State University for The State of Sunshine
      • East Coast Honorable Mention: Clarissa De Los Reyes of NYU for Giving Care

    LATINO:

    • West Coast Winner: Vero Shamo-Garcia of University of Southern California for Limpiando Sapos
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Miguel Alvarez of University of Texas at Austin for Kid
    • East Coast Winner: Daniel Eduvijes Carrera of Columbia University for Primera Comunion
      • East Coast Honorable Mention: Jonathan Roessler of Columbia University for First Period

    WOMEN:

    • West Coast Winner: Nicole Haeusser of University of California at Los Angeles for The Death Strip
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Thouly Dosios of University of California at Los Angeles for House of the Olive Trees
    • East Coast Winner: Jesse Pilkes of North Carolina School of the Arts for Nest of Spiders
      • East Coast Honorable Mention: Catherine Rehwinkel of Florida State University for Mia

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    2006

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

    • West Coast Winner: Matthew Jones
      (Biola University) Be the Man
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Hezekiah Lewis (UCLA) Memoirs of a Smoker

    ASIAN-AMERICAN:

    • West Coast Winner: Vineet Dewan
      (USC) Clear Cut, Simple
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Arvin Chen
        (USC) Mei

    LATINO:

    • West Coast Winner: Xochitl Dorsey
      (UCLA) Tears & Tortillas
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Erika Bagnarello
        (Florida State University Film School) The Melting Pot

    WOMEN:

    • West Coast Winner: Daphne Lambrinou
      (USC) Paperboat
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Diane Lisa Johnson
        (USC) Swimming

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    2005

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

    • West Coast Winner: Ya'Ke Smith (University of Texas at Austin) Hope’s War
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Andre Mallette, Jr (UCLA) Closer

    ASIAN-AMERICAN:

    • West Coast Winner: Jenn Kao (UCLA) Outside

  • LATINO:

    • West Coast Winner: Jenn Kao (UCLA) Outside
    • West Coast Winner: Cristy Paez (Florida State University) My Golden Cage
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Veronica Shamo-Garcia (USC) De Las Calles

    WOMEN:

    • West Coast Winner: Jennifer Arzt (Florida State University) Cake
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Susan Bell (Florida State University) The Resurrectionist

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    • 2004

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Jowan Carbin (Columbia University) Welcome to Life
    • West Coast Winner: Kenneth R. Williams (AFI) A Beautiful Life
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Garrett Thompson (USC) Hope's Choice

    ASIAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Alex Woo (NYU) Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher
    • West Coast Winner: Dong Hyeuk Hwang (USC) Miracle Mile

    LATINO:

    • East Coast Winner: Carlos Gutierrez (NYU) Sleight of Hand
    • West Coast Winner: Anthony M. Puente (UCLA) Diego
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Alonso Filmeno Mayo (AFI) Wednesday Afternoon

    WOMEN:

    • East Coast Winner: Erla Skuladottir (NYU) Savior
    • West Coast Winner: Stacey Kattman (Chapman University) Love Thy Neighbor
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Georgiana Gomez (Chapman University) Tyrone Jones

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    2003

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Randall Dottin (Columbia) A-Alike
    • West Coast Winner: Leona Whitney Beatty (Loyola Marymount University) Last Chair
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Jerry A. Henry (UCLA) I Promise Africa

    ASIAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Dennis Lee (Columbia) Jesus Henry Christ
    • West Coast Winner: Mun Chee Yong (USC) 9:30
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Rajshree Ojha (AFI) Badger

    LATINO:

    • East Coast Winner: Patricia Riggen (Columbia) La Milpa
    • West Coast Winner: Gustavo Hernandez-Perez (AFI) The Mexican Dream
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Joel Juarez (UCLA) Pelea de Gallos

    WOMEN:

    • East Coast Winner: Alison Cole (School of Visual Arts) Drowning
    • West Coast Winner: Michelle Oznowicz (AFI) Sour Mix
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Stacey Kattman (Chapman University) Change of Heart

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    2002

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Phil Bertelsen (NYU) The Sunshine
    • West Coast Winner: Sechaba Morojele (AFI) Ubuntu's Wounds
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Mateen Kemet (Chapman University) Silence

    ASIAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Kazuo Ohno (Columbia) For Our Man
    • West Coast Winner: Grace Lee (UCLA) Barrier Device
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Jon Chu (USC) Gwai Lo: The Little Foreigner

    LATINO:

    • East Coast Winner: Leon Siminiani (Columbia) Dos Mas
    • West Coast Winner: Gerardo Naranjo Gonzalez (AFI) The Last Attack of the Beast
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Joel Juarez (UCLA) Sin Azul

    WOMEN:

    • East Coast Winner: Liat Dahan (NYU) Climbing Miss Sophie
    • West Coast Winner: Tanja Mairitsch (AFI) Fueling the Fire
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Robin Larsen (UCLA) Out of Habit

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    2001

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Tanya Steele (NYU) Solace
    • West Coast Co-Winner: Mobolaji Olambiwonnu (AFI) The Visit
    • West Coast Co-Winner: Lorin B. Coleman (Loyola Marymount) Faith
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Malissa Strong (Los Angeles City College) VWB (Voting While Black)

    ASIAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Anthony Ng (NYU) ... (Dot Dot Dot)
    • West Coast Co-Winner: Nick Sivakumaran (USC) Diwali
    • West Coast Co-Winner: Chad S. Park (USC) Up

    LATINO:

    • East Coast Winner: Cruz Angeles (NYU) Abuela's Revolt
    • West Coast Co-Winner: Jorge Gaggero (AFI) A Piece of Earth
    • West Coast Co-Winner: Carolina Vila-Ramirez (USC) Roam
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Jose Ochoa (USC) The Golden Rose

    WOMEN:

    • East Coast Winner: Briget Bedard (NYU) Baby
    • West Coast Winner: Lori Lovoy-Goran (USC) In Between Days
    • West Coast Honorable Mention: Mary Louise Stoughton (Art Center College of Design) Katherine
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Miriam Kim (USC) Angelus Plaza

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    2000

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Alison McDonald (Columbia) The Life and Times of Little Jimmy B
    • West Coast Winner: Desha Dauchan (UCLA) Episodes

    ASIAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Ted Kim (Columbia) The Uncertainty Principle
    • West Coast Winner: Fatimah Tobing Rony (UCLA) Everything In Between
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Puntip Limrungroj (Art Center College of Design) Body and Soul

    LATINO:

    • East Coast Winner: Cristina Lois (School of Visual Arts) Anduriña
    • West Coast Winner: Sebastian Leda (Art Center College of Design) Trysting
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Bianca C. D'Carpio (CSU- Long Beach) Have You Seen Me

    WOMEN:

    • East Coast Winner: Joan Stein (Columbia) One Day Crossing
    • West Coast Winner: Barbara Stepansky (USC) Blueberry Pancakes
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Laleh Soomekh and Porter Gale (Stanford University) xxxy

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    1999

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Caran Hartsfield (NYU) Kiss It Up to God
    • West Coast Winner: Jennifer Haskin-O'Reggio (USC) Blues for Red
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Jay Smith (UCLA) Upright

    ASIAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Kevin Feng Ke (NYU) The Official Account
    • West Coast Winner: Nathan Adolfson (UCLA) Passing Through
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Augustine Ma (UCLA) Yolk

    LATINO:

    • East Coast Winner: Alfredo de Villa (Columbia) Neto's Run
    • West Coast Winner: Lisset Barcellos (San Francisco State Univ.) A La Medida [Custom-made]

    WOMEN:

    • East Coast Winner: Nicole Kassell (NYU) Jamie
    • West Coast Winner: Kennedy Wheatley (USC) Iron Ladies
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Heather Ragsdale (USC) A Cinnamon Roll Story

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    1998

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Lisa Collins (Columbia) Tree Shade
    • West Coast Co-Winner: Christa Collins (San Francisco State University) She Smokes
    • West Coast Co-Winner: Shandra McDonald (Howard) Claudia Makes A Difference
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Sylvain White (Pomona College) Urban Short Circuit Mind Scrape

    ASIAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Perry Lin (Columbia) 17 Years to Earth
    • West Coast Co-Winner: David Kiang (USC) Tunnel Vision
    • West Coast Co-Winner: Fatimah Tobing Rony (UCLA) Demon Lover
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Chesley Chen (USC) Paper Birds

    LATINO:

    • East Coast Winner: Julia Solomonofff (Columbia) Siesta
    • West Coast Honorable Mention: Mauricio Ammirata (Columbia College - Hollywood) Little Warriors
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Kristy Guevara-Flanagan (San Francisco State University) El Corrido de Cecilia Rios

    WOMEN:

    • East Coast Winner: Caroline Kava (Columbia) Number One
    • West Coast Winner: Barbara Schock (AFI) My Mother Dreams the Hells Angels in NY
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Marni Banack (AFI) John

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    1997

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Aaron Woolfolk (Columbia) Rage
    • West Coast Winner: Carmen Elly (AFI) A Guy Walks Into a Bar
    • West Coast Honorable Mention: Marc Pitre (USC) Show and Prove
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Damani Mangum (USC) The Solution

    ASIAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Bertha Bay-Sa Pan (Columbia) Face
    • West Coast Winner: Hak J. Chung (USC) Seoul II Soul
      • West Coast Asian Honorable Mention: Patrick Yu (USC) Hing Dai and the Man

    LATINO:

    • East Coast Winner: Abraham Castillo (School of Visual Arts) The Unbreakable Bond
    • West Coast Winner :Jacqueline Barcos (USC) Mala Sangre
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: John Colorado (USC) Interrogation

    WOMEN:

    • East Coast Winner: Kate Elmore (School of Visual Arts) Burro Love
    • West Coast Winner: Jodi Lane (USC) Big Bucks for Buddha
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Janet Howard (USC) Breaking Ground: Men Against Rape

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    1996

    AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

    • East Coast Winner: Geoffrey Fletcher (Columbia) Magic Marker
    • West Coast Co-Winner: Vern Anthony (UCLA) The Second Time Around
    • West Coast Co-Winner: Jennifer Haskin-O'Reggio (USC) The Mirror Lied

    LATINO:

    • East Coast Winner: Alfredo Rodriguez de Villa (Columbia) Joe's Egg
    • West Coast Winner: Maria Cortinas (USC) Go West

    WOMEN:

    • East Coast Winner: Krista Whetstone (Columbia) William
    • West Coast Winner: Ramona Diaz (Stanford) Spirits Rising
      • West Coast Honorable Mention: Karin Thayer (USC) Seed

    The awards rules and procedures mandate that competing films must have been made in the school year and must have been produced for course credit or under the supervision of a faculty member. Dramas, documentaries and experimental films are all eligible, however, animated films are not. Applicants must be enrolled in or be a recent (one-year) graduate from an accredited post-secondary four-year institution or other selected university which offers a degree in film or television. Eligible films are those in which every major crew position was held by a student. Productions in which a non-student, professional or a faculty member served as cinematographer, camera operator, sound recordist, editor, lighting director or screenwriter are not eligible. Panels consisting of Director members of the DGA from the respective groups (African-American, Asian-American, Latino and women) review the entries and select the winners.

    For more information about the DGA Student Film Awards contact Matt Gamarra in the DGA Headquarters in Los Angeles.
     

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