Chancellor Carranza and Commissioner del Castillo Announce First Annual NYC Public School Film Festival
Festival showcases 20 short films by middle and high school students
NEW YORK — Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza and Commissioner Anne del Castillo today announced the first annual NYC Public School Film Festival. Twenty student films were selected from more than 50 submissions from public middle and high schools citywide in the categories of Feature/Narrative, Animation, Experimental, PSA Advocacy, and Documentary.
“I have experienced firsthand the transformative power of high-quality arts education, and I’m proud to join the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment in the launch of the first annual NYC Public School Film Festival,” said NYC Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “The skills our students learn in the arts help them thrive in and out of the classroom, and this festival will give talented young filmmakers an unprecedented opportunity to showcase their work in front of leaders and trailblazers in the industry.”
“We are thrilled to launch the first annual NYC Public School Film Festival in partnership with the NYC Department of Education,” said Media and Entertainment Commissioner Anne del Castillo. “Not only does this festival give talented young filmmakers a chance to showcase their work, but the career expo and panel offer a chance to learn about jobs in the industry from some of the most successful and interesting people in the business.”
Films were judged by a panel of New York City public school film teachers, as well as director, producer & Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Lisa Gossels, and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, animator, and professor Jeff Scher.
Student films were screened this morning. This afternoon, students are taking part in a panel discussion with esteemed filmmakers, screenwriters, and composers who are providing insight into and guidance on the entertainment industry. Students who are interested in pursuing higher education or workforce training have the opportunity to speak with industry representatives, learn about the latest filmmaking technologies and get information about media studies programs.
The panel is being moderated by producer and director Dana Kuznetzkoff, who produced episodes of Boardwalk Empire and Smash. Panelists include:
- Jon Batiste, acclaimed Musician, Composer & Bandleader at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
- Alexander Dinelaris, Academy Award and Golden Globe winning screenwriter for Birdman; Co-Producer on three-time Academy Award winning film The Revenant
- Tim Squires, Academy Award winning editor for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Life of Pi, Gemini Man
- Mimi Valdes, Chief Creative Officer of i am OTHER, a multi-media creative collective created by Pharrell Williams; Executive Producer of Hidden Figures; Producer of Roxanne Roxanne
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Contact: Chancellor’s Press Office (212) 374-5141