Student Film Festival Shines Spotlight on Work of Young Artists

Christine Clark | May 26, 2009

Panelists include Beth Accomando, KPBS film critic; Michael Trigillio, award winning multimedia artist and UC San Diego Visual Arts faculty Ligiah Villalobos, writer and executive producer of the award winning feature film “Under the Same Moon” (“La Misma Luna”) Joyce Axlerod, founding chair of the San Diego Jewish Film Festival; and Rebecca Webb, founding film curator of UC San Diego’s ArtPower!

A nightmare plagued teenager, egotistical director, used shoe salesman and World War II refugee were a few of the eclectic characters featured in the films screened at the second annual “Up & Coming Student Film Festival” in the Loft Thursday night. The event was designed to champion the work of student filmmakers.

Nine films selected from 32 entries received awards for everything from editing to sound design and direction. “I hope this event becomes an enduring tradition at UC San Diego,” said Rebecca Webb, founding film curator of UC San Diego’s ArtPower! “As an artist myself I know how important it is to have your work screened in a public space and to make connections.” Webb added that the event is really the culmination of a large effort to support UC San Diego’s student filmmakers.

“It is an honor to be here,” said Zach Schamberg, a UC San Diego senior who won two film festival awards. “Filmmaking is such a tough industry, so it’s definitely inspiring to be awarded by other filmmakers. This makes me want to go on and direct more.”

Edward Kim (left) and Zach Schamberg (right) sit with one of the actors from “That One Student Film” (center)

The films were judged by a panel of distinguished media experts that included Beth Accomando, KPBS film critic; Joyce Axlerod, founding chair of the San Diego Jewish Film Festival; Oren Sarch, film editor (“Pi”); Jay Drose, UC San Diego alumnus and screenwriter; Tara Knight, award-winning animator and associate director of UC San Diego’s Sixth College; Anders Wright, San Diego Citybeat film critic; Michael Trigillio, award-winning multimedia artist and UC San Diego Visual Arts faculty, Ligiah Villalobos, writer and executive producer of the award-winning feature film “Under the Same Moon” (“La Misma Luna”) and Rebecca Webb, ArtPower! Film Curator.

Thursday’s celebration kicked off with an offbeat performance by the Artichoke Collective and a pizza party.  All nine films were screened before a live audience, followed by an award ceremony and panel discussion between the judges and student filmmakers.

Schamberg won awards for “Childlike,” a feature staring 10-year-old actor Brock Epperson, and “Robert Koch is 90,” a documentary that chronicled Schamberg’s step-grandfather, who was a WWII refugee. “I really loved your film,” said Axelrod. “I hope you make it a tribute to your grandfather in a full length documentary format.”

All nine winning films were screened before a live audience.

Other filmmakers recognized at the event included Sunny Thipsidakhon and Michael Tang who both won awards for their quirky comedy, “Tales of a Used Shoe Salesman.”

The jury praised Edward Kim for his comedy, “That One Student Film.” “The acting was really amazing,” said Trigillio. The panel also commended Royce Choi for the editing and cinematography in his environmentally conscious short, “Juiced.”

Choi is a freshman who said he was excited about his award and to see the films directed by older students.

Although Marvin Choi’s short animation piece, “Said Black” received accolades from the jury, the senior said he was nervous to attend the ceremony. “I have never had my film screened in front of a live audience,” he said. “But I thought this event was definitely encouraging.”

Other fantasy, dream-like films such as “Kindergarten Prometheus” and “Nightmare People” featured haunting visuals and distinctive aesthetics. Shun-Ching Zen’s stop motion short “Verge of Madness” also was awarded Thursday night. “It took me two weeks to complete two minutes of film,” said Zen.

Accomando, ’82, said she was impressed by Zen’s editing skills and the caliber of films at this year’s festival. “I’m always looking to support student films,” she said. “I graduated from the visual arts department here and I think it’s really important to have student films show in public. This year’s films were excellent and really diverse.”