Over 275 people attended USF St. Petersburg’s “Oscars.”
The award night was dedicated to students who crafted films for the Campus MovieFest on Feb. 29.
A University Student Center ballroom was packed with friends and family who came out to support the top 16 finalists.
Four films received the Jury Award, which included a 12-month Adobe Creative Cloud membership and an invitation to attend and screen their film at CMF’s annual filmmaking summit in Atlanta, Ga. Their movies will also be screened at the 2016 Cannes International Film Festival.
USFSP student Shannon Gazdacka won the Silver Tripod Award and Jury Award for her film “Survived By.”
The top four films were “Survived by” by Shannon Gazdacka, “Gemini” by Yosbel’s team, “China White Roulette” by Ashworth Crew and “Virgil” by Beard Bros.
“Survived by” was also awarded Best Documentary and the Silver Tripod award, chosen by the CMF staff.
Gazdacka created a documentary about teen suicide and interviewed three parents about their experience after the deaths of their children.
“I hope this video can help those who are going through the same experience as these parents and just let them know they aren’t alone,” she said.
Other honors included the Best Actor award which went to Yosbel Garcia for his role in “Gemini,” Best Actress to Gabriela Mena for her starring role in “China White Roulette.”
Garcia was impressed with the CMF event.
“I feel that anybody who makes a film through CMF is having an experience of a lifetime,” he said. “Many students have ideas for films that could be award-winners, but most don’t have the opportunity or the resources. I feel like this really opened my eyes to this kind of stuff.”
Students who did not win any awards can still submit movies for a chance to win $15,000 as part of the Elfenworks Social Justice Category. The movies made for this category must convey a social justice issue in the community.
CMF is the largest student film
festival, and began in 2001 at Emory University. Student films will have a chance to be seen by a wider audience after a deal with Virgin America airlines that will screen films as in-flight entertainment, according to the website.
The films can be viewed on CMF’s website: www.campusmoviefest.com
