August 19, 2014 - Local students from Bronx Community College had the opportunity to showcase their work at the 21st Annual BCC Film and Video Festival. Students in the BCC Media and Digital Film Club along with the Media and Digital Film Production Program of the Communications Arts and Science Department worked late hours to complete their films in time for the festival.

During the festival, which took place June 5 at the Bow Tie Chelsea Cinemas, students showed off their original short films that they had been working on throughout the semester. Production executives from the Eastman Kodak Company, the Tiffen Company, Avid Technology, HBO, the Independent Film Channel, International Cinematographers Guild, Local 600, IATSE, Panavision, Barbizon Lighting Company and many other companies were on hand to screen the films and present awards. During the festival, special thanks were extended to Dr. Debra Gonsher, Chair of the Communications Arts & Sciences Department for her continued support for the festival.

“The films that were presented at this year’s film festival are as varied as the students that created them,” said Professor Jeffrey Wisotsky of the Bronx Community College CAS Media and Digital Film Production Program.

“Audience feedback is invaluable in developing a clear sense of what one wants to do as a film and video artist. There is something very special to be in a screening room and celebrate that. This was a very special evening for all of our BCC Filmmakers, and I was glad to be in the audience for the 21st year and applaud them for their efforts.”

The 2014 Eastman Kodak Student Filmmaker Awards were presented by Anne Hubble, Eastman Kodak Company, Regional Account Manager, Studio & Independent Feature Film and Film Schools. First prize went to Stephanie Fox for her film Wake Up. Jada Jordan won second prize for This Man. Third and fourth prizes were given out to Charlie Gomez (A Child’s Torment) and Carlos Otero (Avery), respectively.

“I would just like to say what a profound effect this experience has had on my life,” said first prize winner Stephanie Fox. “I have learned so much, met so many talented individuals and have had the opportunity to get to know people who have been living this dream.”

Fox also received the 5th Annual Marie Nesbitt Promise Prize, established in 2007 by BCC alumna, Vikki L. Pryor in memory of her grandmother, Marie Nesbitt.

Carlos Otero, a Media and Digital Film Production Major, received the 4th Annual Steve Garfinkel Memorial Award for Excellence in Media and Digital Film Production, which is given in honor of the late cinematographer who passed away in 2009. Mr. Garfinkel was a member of IATSE Local 600, the Cinematographers Guild, and the award was presented by fellow cinematographer Dejan Georgevich. “Steve’s record of helping students with their films is legendary,” said Georgevich.

The Avid Technology Award was presented by John F. Davis, Storyboard Artist on Baz Luhrman’s film The Great Gatsby, to Charlie Gomez for excellence in Television Non-Linear Editing. The 2014 Chairperson’s Award for excellence in a specific craft discipline, animation, was presented to Nicholas Rojas for his film, Flash Rebel.

The Peter J. Rondinone Memorial Awards were established by the Media and Digital Film Production Program to recognize students who have demonstrated the capability to make a positive difference at Bronx Community College and their community. The awards were presented by Dr. Carole M. Berotte Joseph, President, Bronx Community College. The 2014 Peter J. Rondinone Screenwriting Memorial Award recipients were: Andrreu Suarez, Charlie Gomez, Jada Jordan, Jordan Troche, Sonny Reyes and Stephanie Fox.

The Media and Digital Film Production A.S. degree program at Bronx Community College provides students with a broad foundation in digital production to prepare for a career in television, film and video, which makes up only a fraction of the possibilities for trained media specialists. Students in the degree program acquire a diverse skill set through various media courses and hands-on experiences in studio and sound production, field production, camera operation, lighting, audio recording, digital graphics and animation, editing as well as the narrative. To learn more, visit bcc.cuny.edu.