By Cheyann Greirson
Senior at Sacred Heart Greenwich
Sacred Heart student filmmakers were in the spotlight April 14 as they screened their films during the school’s seventh annual Film Festival.
After walking the red carpet into the Eileen Dealy Gillespie ’49 Science Center, students, parents, and faculty filled the Lennie and John de Csepel Theater, where seniors Cynthia Thomas, Agatha Ryan and Riley Doyle served as hosts for evening.
“It was exciting to finally see all of the work that goes into preparing for the film festival pay off. As excited as I was, I was also extremely nervous. Nevertheless, filmmaking is an amazing opportunity for me to share my perspective of the world with others,” said Ms. Thomas.
The screening began with the Public Service Announcement (PSA) category, which featured 10 pieces, highlighting different issues, including the dangers of texting while driving, and the importance of reducing unnecessary waste. This category was judged by Sacred Heart alumna Elizabeth Sabia (Class of 2011), who helped create our first film festival and is now assistant editor of “Greenwich Girl.”
Andrew Freirich, producer, director, and member of the Fit Global management team, chose the winners of the Documentary category. These films featured profiles on individuals, such as “Good Morning America” news anchor Amy Robach, and organizations, including the Prospector Theater in Ridgefield, which employs disabled adults.
Free Form was a new category in the film festival. It allowed students to present their adventure and travel films. Michelle Bella, vice president of Sales and Consumer Marketing for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) Deportes, the ESPN Spanish network, served as judge for this category.
“We need more female filmmakers and journalists to make their voices heard and I think it is so great that you girls have the platform to do so,” Mrs. Bella said about the importance of broadcast journalism as well as creative filmmaking.
The evening’s final category, Creative, featured a Claymation piece about a young girl who uses music to connect with her grandfather with Alzheimer’s, among other films. Michelle Buccieri, a producer who has worked with media companies such as the NBC and Fox News, and her husband, Paul Buccieri, president of the History and Arts and Entertainment (A&E) networks, chose the winners.
At the end of the night, juniors Maddie McLane and Ellen Pucel presented a tribute video to the seniors of the Broadcast Journalism classes. Awards were presented to seniors who were in filmmaking for three and four years in the Upper School.
Watch the winning videos here: http://www.cshgreenwich.org/Page/Broadcast-Journalism/Film-Festival-Highlights#
A list of the Judge’s Choice Awards:
Public Service Announcements
First place – “A False Reality” by Laura Holland and Eleanor McKenney
Second place – “Don’t Destroy Creation” by Stephanie Jordan
Documentary
First place – “Surviving more than just the News” by Lily Lemkau and Jackie Shannon
Second place – “Prospect for Change” by Maddie McLane and Ellen Pucel
Freeform
First place – “Tide” by Claire Uygur
Second place – “Aesthetic Dictionary” by Ava Bloom and Sophia Brusco
Creative
First place – “Chemistry” by Riley Doyle, Agatha Ryan and Cynthia Thomas
Second place – “Frankpa” by Georgina Cahill
The audience was asked to vote on their mobile phones for their picks of the festival. The Audience Choice Awards were:
Public Service Announcement
Claire Uygur for “1 in 5”
Documentary
Lily Lemkau and Jackie Shannon for “Surviving more than just the News”
Freeform
Claire Uygur for “Tide”
Creative
Georgina Cahill for “Frankpa”
