2017 JUNIOR JURY MEMBERS

MONTCLAIR FILM ANNOUNCES STUDENT WINNERS FOR THE 2017 EMERGING FILMMAKING COMPETITION | Co-Presented by Partners for Health Foundation

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Today, Montclair Film announced the winners of the 2017 Emerging Filmmaker Competition (EFC), a program co-presented by Partners For Health Foundation that screens work by students in grades 4-12 from the Tri-State Area and beyond. This year, over 90 films were submitted in three categories: Cinemaniacs (grades 4-6), Storytellers (grades 7-9), and Visionaries (grades 10-12). Winning films were selected by a group of educators and industry professionals, and all winning films will be screened at the Montclair Film Festival’s EFC Showcase on Saturday, April 29, at 11:00 a.m. at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ.

Montclair Film has also selected 15 students from across the area to participate in the Montclair Film Festival’s Junior Jury. The jurors will review a selection of films, meet with industry professionals to learn about the process of jury deliberation, adjudicate, and select a winning film for the festival’s Junior Jury Award, to be given on Saturday, May 6th, 2017.

The Montclair Film Festival, in conjunction with the Montclair Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC), will also be featuring two Sensory Friendly screenings for families this year. Sensory friendly screenings feature lowered sound, raised house lights, and the freedom for young people with sensory sensitivities to move, speak, and view films in a friendly, judgement-free environment. This year’s screenings will be INTO THE WHO KNOWS!, screening Sunday, April 30 at 11:00 a.m. at the Clairidge (suggested for children ages 6 and up), and SWIM TEAM on Friday, May 5 at 4:30 p.m. at the Bellevue (suggested for ages 12 and up).

The Montclair Film Festival will also feature a public art reception on Saturday, May 6 at 2:00 p.m. at the Investors Bank Film & Media Center, showcasing a collaborative student Air/Water Art Installation, co-presented by the Montclair Cooperative School that focuses on this year’s Community Climate Action Campaign. The piece, featuring thousands of re-purposed plastic bottles and mixed materials, will be on display throughout the Montclair Film Festival on the rear façade of the building, located at 505 Bloomfield Avenue. The reception is free and open to the public.

“As our Education programs continue to grow, we’re incredibly proud of these students, both as filmmakers and film lovers,” said Montclair Film Education Director Sue Hollenberg. “We remain dedicated to creating meaningful experiences for students of all ages, and the diversity and reach of these programs are a demonstration of our commitment to teaching the art of film. We congratulate all of our students on their outstanding work.”

Tickets for the 2017 Montclair Film Festival go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 7 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are available online at montclairfilmfest.org or at the festival’s new Box Office, located in the lobby of the Investors Bank Film & Media Center at 505 Bloomfield Avenue in downtown Montclair.

THE 2017 JUNIOR JURY

Abby Berberian, Bridgewater Raritan High School

Aidan Champeau, Montclair High School

David Chun, Millburn

Alison Cottingham, Montclair Kimberley Academy

Tyrell Dickerson, Academy 360

Soula Garcia, Bloomfield High School

Hank Greenberg, Montclair High School

Jackson Healey, Middletown High School South

Kianni, Keys, Newark Academy

Reymond Lamb, Montclair High School

Noah Levine, Livingston High

Daniel Mathis, Montclair High School

Gabrielle Narcisse, Kent Place School

Sophia Raines, West Orange High School

Kayleen Silva, Ridgefield Park

2017 EMERGING FILMMAKER COMPETITION WINNERS

Cinemaniacs (Grades 4-6)

Grand Prize Narrative

GREAT AUNT’S DISGUISE

Hanmer Elementary

Liv Hammer

Cora Tinker

Edie Carson

Grand Prize Comedy

HOW TO MAKE A FILM FOR DUMMIES

The Pingry School

Jordan Miller

Vared Shmuler

Jenna Hauser

Meher Khan

Storytellers (Grades 7-9)

Grand Prize Comedy & Grand Prize Narrative

SOCK MONSTER

Middletown High School South

Victoria Pater

Courtney Voehl

Olivia Parauda

Cassidy Anontucci

Milla Shinder

Erik Pedersen

Special Jury Prize Comedy

BULLFROG

Union Catholic Regional High School

Zachary Reichgut

Grand Prize Experimental

IMPERCEPTIBLE

Montclair Kimberley Academy

Luke Gardiner

Grand Prize Documentary

PROJECT IDENTITY

South Orange Middle School

Alex Ferrandiz

Sam Cohen

Lucia Garritano

Robin Kalderen

Ray Feinleib

Visionaries

(Grades 10-12)

Grand Prize Comedy

TINY

Middletown High School South

Matt King

Special Jury Prize Comedy (tie)

THE INDUBITABLE MOLLY DAVIS

Montclair Kimberly Academy

Lily Jones

Special Jury Prize Comedy (tie)

PLANET OF THE DOGS

Montclair High School

Owen Plofker

Grand Prize Experimental

1600

Middletown High School South

Charlotte Larish

Lisa Merola

Maria Dragone

Sage Levine

Special Jury Prize Experimental

THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS

Columbia High School

Jacob Hirsch

Grand Prize Narrative

PERSONAL SPACE

Montclair High School

Lucia Ledesma

Aidan Champeau

Jake Weinberg

Lilli Herrick

Jacob Manthy

Petra Fox

Jake Diamond

Special Jury Prize Narrative (tie)

BLACK & WHITE REVENGE

Montville Township High School

David Champion

Jeff Gallup

Heather Giudice

Samantha Grossman

Alec Grossman

Jack Motherway

Paul Riccio

Veronica Tullo

Special Jury Prize Narrative (Tie)

FIND

Morristown High School

Kylee Strasser

Grand Prize Documentary & Social Impact

XENOPHOBIA

The Hudson School

Sean Riller-Miltner

Special Jury Prize Documentary

LOVE SHOULDN’T HURT

Montclair High School

Blythe Bahramipour

Special Jury Prize Social Impact

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Passaic County Technical Institute

Tiffany Cano

Special Jury Prize Social Impact

THE HURDLE

Passaic County Technical Institute

Tyrese Watkins