The Lennie and John de Csepel Theatre came alive last night as Sacred Heart Greenwich’s sixteenth annual Film Festival celebrated the creativity of student filmmakers.  This year’s theme “Missing in Action!” took a dramatic and mysterious turn, highlighting stories of absence, discovery, and impact.  Seniors Lila Caruso, Amy Walsh, Olivia Antenucci, and Natasha Arakal hosted the event and guided the audience through the evening’s program on April 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  92 creative filmmaking students debuted their work on the big screen, earning cheers, praise, and awards from judges.

The three hosts have been preparing for the film department’s annual event since September 2024.  The evening began with all four hosts seated at a birthday dinner party, except one guest, Mr. Michael Baber, President of Sacred Heart, was missing.  The mystery of Mr. Baber’s disappearance slowly unraveled as the night unfolded, cleverly embodying this year’s chosen theme, “Missing in Action!”  Lila discussed why she and her co-hosts chose this year’s theme.

“At the start of the year, each host had the opportunity to pitch a theme,” Lila said.  “The concept of a mystery, inspired by Clue, quickly emerged as a favorite.  We were drawn to its storytelling potential and how it could cleverly incorporate familiar elements from our Sacred Heart community, including staff, students, and cherished traditions.”

This year’s Film Festival brought together a panel of judges from across the film, television, and media industries.  Among the panelists was Ms. Yvette Miley, Executive Vice President of NBC Universal News Group, Mr. Matt D’Amato, founding partner and executive producer at Valiant Pictures, and Ms. Amy Schatz, an award-winning director and producer known for her work in children’s programming and documentary film.  Ms. Shelby Holland ’14, a producer, strategist, and podcaster, brought her perspective to the category.

Students in the Real World and Creative Filmmaking classes spend the semester developing, writing, and producing original films, which they submit for consideration in the annual Film Festival.  Each student film entered into one of four categories, which include Creative, Experimental, Documentary, or Public Service Announcement (PSA).  Beginning in December and continuing through January, a selection committee took on the task of viewing and thoughtfully critiquing work from 92 film student submissions.  After weeks of discussion and review, the committee selected standout films to be presented and judged at this year’s festival.   Ms. Leah Principe, Multimedia Teacher, spoke on how the judges consider each student’s film.

“The films are carefully selected by a team of 12 students and five faculty.  Students and faculty watch all the entries in a category, write comments about each, rank their choices, and then we meet to discuss the final lineup,” Ms. Principe said. 

The PSA category, judged by Ms. Schatz, featured impactful 60-second films that shed light on important issues.  Senior Daniella Flores earned second-place recognition for her film “He Loves Me Not”, which addressed the growing crisis of domestic violence within high school relationships.  The judges gave first place to First place to Lila for her film “The Letting Go,” which is an exploration of the long-term effects of prolonged grief.

This year’s documentary section, judged by Ms. Miley, showcased various topics and emotions through film.  Sophomores Maria Walsh and Julia Beaudry received second place for “The Man in the Red Bandana,”which honored the heroic actions of Welles Crowther on September 11, 2001.  First place went to Sophomore Emma Mathews for “A Family Game,” which is a film about her family’s love for hockey, an enduring passion passed down by their grandfather.

The experimental category, judged by Ms. Holland, showcased creative films that used unconventional techniques to present unique narratives and messages.  Sophomore Maisie Pascal received second place honors for her film “Threads of Love,” which explored five different forms of love, according to Greek mythology.  Junior Clara Bonomo claimed first place with her film “Red Roses,” which followed a handmade clay figure, as he grieved the death of his beloved wife. 

The final category of the night was the creative category, judged by Mr. D’Amato, which highlighted a diverse selection of films, each presenting its unique perspective.  Senior Keira Frascella claimed second place in the award for her film “Pilot,” which comically captured the sorority recruitment process.  Junior Clara Bonomo earned first place with her film “Trick or Dog Treat,” which followed her dog, Charlie Bonomo, around as he hunted for candy on Halloween. 

The evening wrapped up with a farewell montage, honoring the senior members of the filmmaking classes.  After the tribute, each senior received a trophy to celebrate her contributions and dedication to the film program.  Ms. Ellyn Stewart, Director of Media Studies, highlighted the significance of the Film Festival as a moment for students to unite and celebrate the creativity, effort, and commitment poured into their films.

“I am incredibly proud of the work our 92 filmmaking students have contributed to making this year’s 16th annual film festival a success,” Ms. Stewart said.  “Olivia Antenucci, Natasha Arakal, Lila Caruso, and Amy Walsh have been especially ambitious and creative in their role as hosts.”

Featured Image by Maddy Hartnett ’25