26th Annual DGA Student Film Awards Winners

Best African American Student Filmmakers

East Region

• Award Winner: Natalie Jasmine Harris of New York University — Pure
• Jury Award: Tramaine Raphael Gray of University of North Carolina School of the Arts — Kindred Kings

West Region

• Award Winner: Allison A. Waite of University of Southern California — The Dope Years: The Story of Latasha Harlins
• Jury Award: Dagmawi Abebe of University of Southern California — The Ball Method

Best Asian American Student Filmmakers

East Region

• Award Winner: Karishma Dev Dube of New York University — Bittu
• Jury Award: Constance Tsang of Columbia University — Beau

West Region

• Award Winner: Olivia Hang Zhou of American Film Institute — Apart, Together
• Jury Award: Shuang Li of University of California, Berkeley — The Long Wait

Best Latino Student Filmmakers

East Region

• Award Winner: Esteban Garcia Vernaza of Columbia University — Silento
• Jury Award: Mariana Saffon of Columbia University — Entre tú y Milagros

West Region

• Award Winner: Felipe Vargas of University of Southern California — Milk Teeth
• Jury Award: Tiffany Kontoyiannis-Guillen of University of Southern California — Welcome Back

Best Women Student Filmmakers

East Region

• Award Winner: Shae Xu of Columbia University — Duet
• Jury Award: Alice Aguiar of Savannah College of Art and Design — Windchimes

West Region

• Award Winner: Kathryn Boyd-Batstone of University of Southern California — For Rosa
• Jury Prize: Star Victoria of University of Southern California — La Ruta

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:

• Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II; Grown-ish; Rapture; The Land)
• Jon M. Chu (In the Heights; Now You See Me 2; Crazy Rich Asians; Home Before Dark)
• Ryan Coogler (Black Panther; Creed; Fruitvale Station)
• Nicole Kassell (Watchmen; Castlerock; Westworld; The Americans)
• Patricia Riggen (Surveillance; The 33; Miracles From Heaven; Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan)
• Sylvain White (The Rookie; Fargo; The Umbrella Academy; Amazing Stories)

The winners were chosen by blue ribbon panels. Eligible films were made in the 2019/2020 school year (September 2019 through August 2020), and produced as a student project under the supervision of a faculty member – with students holding every major crew position. Dramas, comedies and documentaries are all eligible – animated and experimental films are not eligible. Applicants must be enrolled in, or be a recent (one-year) graduate from, an accredited post-secondary institution located in the United States and selected by the DGA.