On Tuesday, November 15, 2005, DGA Members and guests were invited to celebrate the winners and honorable mention recipients of the 11th Annual DGA Student Film Awards at the DGA theatre in Los Angeles. The awards are designed to honor African-American, Asian-American, Latino and women film students in California film schools and other select universities across the country.

“The DGA established these awards 11 years ago to offer recognition and encouragement to outstanding young ethnic minority and women film students,” said DGA Past President Gene Reynolds who officiated over the ceremony. “Since then, it has grown to include over sixty schools across the country. These awards are intended to help identify talented new voices and welcome them Into the film industry, and eventually into the DGA.”

The 2005 honorees were selected by panels consisting of DGA members from each of the respective categories (African American, Asian American, Latino and women).

BEST AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT FILMMAKER:

• Winner: Ya’Ke Smith of the University of Texas at Austin for Hope’s War
• Honorable Mention: Andre Mallette, Jr. of UCLA for Closer

BEST ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENT FILMMAKER:

• Winner: Jenn Kao of the UCLA for Outside

BEST LATINO STUDENT FILMMAKER:

• Winner: Cristy Paez of Florida State University for My Golden Cage
• Honorable Mention: Veronica Shamo-Garcia of the USC for De Las Calles

BEST WOMAN STUDENT FILMMAKER:

• Winner: Jennifer Arzt of Florida State University for Cake
• Honorable Mention: Susan Bell of Florida State University for The Resurrectionist

Prizes of $2,500 from the DGA along with a product grant valued at $1,000 provided by Kodak's Worldwide Student Film Program were awarded to the winner in each group, and a product grant valued at $500 was awarded to each honorable mention.