Convent of the Sacred Heart student filmmakers were in the spotlight April 14 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. as they screened their films during the 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 deCsepel Theater where Mr. Chris Ryan, introduced the hosts, seniors Cynthia Thomas, Riley Doyle, and his daughter Agatha Ryan. The students planned the film festival and created the featured films under the supervision of Broadcast Journalism Studio Director and Broadcast Journalism Teacher, Ms. Ellyn Stewart.
“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,” Cynthia said.
The screening began with the Public Service Announcement (PSA) category, which featured ten pieces, highlighting different issues, including the dangers of texting while driving, and the importance of reducing unnecessary waste. Sacred Heart alumna Miss Elizabeth Sabia ’11 helped create the first film festival and is currently the Assistant Editor of The Greenwich Girl magazine. She selected the first and second place winners of the PSA category.
Mr. Andrew Freirich, producer, director, and member of the Fit Global and Fit Global Management team, chose the winners of the Documentary category. These films featured profiles on individuals, such as Good Morning America News Anchor Mrs. Amy Robach, and organizations including Prospector Movie theater, which employs disabled adults.
Free Form is a new category to the film festival, which allowed students to present their adventure and travel films. Mrs. 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. Mrs. Michelle Buccieri, a producer who has worked with media companies such as the National Broadcast Company and Fox News Channel, and Mr. Paul Buccieri, President of History and Arts and Entertainment (A&E) networks, both chose the winners.
At the end of the night, juniors Maddie McLane and Ellen Pucel presented a tribute video to seniors of the Broadcast Journalism classes, and awards for seniors who have been members of filmmaking classes for three or four years.
Students whose films did not appear in the film festival received awards during Upper School morning meeting April 12 to celebrate their hard work and achievement in media. Other Sacred Heart students from the Sacred Heart Preparatory School in Atherton, California, and Sacre Coeur in Melbourne, Australia judged these films.
After walking the red carpet into the Eileen Dealy Gillespie ’49 Science Center, students, parents, and faculty filled the Lennie and John deCsepel Theater where Mr. Chris Ryan, introduced the hosts, seniors Cynthia Thomas, Riley Doyle, and his daughter Agatha Ryan. The students planned the film festival and created the featured films under the supervision of Broadcast Journalism Studio Director and Broadcast Journalism Teacher, Ms. Ellyn Stewart.
“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,” Cynthia said.
The screening began with the Public Service Announcement (PSA) category, which featured ten pieces, highlighting different issues, including the dangers of texting while driving, and the importance of reducing unnecessary waste. Sacred Heart alumna Miss Elizabeth Sabia ’11 helped create the first film festival and is currently the Assistant Editor of The Greenwich Girl magazine. She selected the first and second place winners of the PSA category.
Mr. Andrew Freirich, producer, director, and member of the Fit Global and Fit Global Management team, chose the winners of the Documentary category. These films featured profiles on individuals, such as Good Morning America News Anchor Mrs. Amy Robach, and organizations including Prospector Movie theater, which employs disabled adults.
Free Form is a new category to the film festival, which allowed students to present their adventure and travel films. Mrs. 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. Mrs. Michelle Buccieri, a producer who has worked with media companies such as the National Broadcast Company and Fox News Channel, and Mr. Paul Buccieri, President of History and Arts and Entertainment (A&E) networks, both chose the winners.
At the end of the night, juniors Maddie McLane and Ellen Pucel presented a tribute video to seniors of the Broadcast Journalism classes, and awards for seniors who have been members of filmmaking classes for three or four years.
Students whose films did not appear in the film festival received awards during Upper School morning meeting April 12 to celebrate their hard work and achievement in media. Other Sacred Heart students from the Sacred Heart Preparatory School in Atherton, California, and Sacre Coeur in Melbourne, Australia judged these films.
Sacred Heart Preparatory International Film Festival
Social Justice
2nd place, Ryan Smith, Anna Snopkowski, and Grace Thompson, “You Are Enough”
1st place, Christina DeConcini, “What will you Leave?”
Narrative
2nd place, Agatha Ryan, “The Heirloom Society”
1st place, Georgina Cahill, “Frankpa”
Social Justice
2nd place, Ryan Smith, Anna Snopkowski, and Grace Thompson, “You Are Enough”
1st place, Christina DeConcini, “What will you Leave?”
Narrative
2nd place, Agatha Ryan, “The Heirloom Society”
1st place, Georgina Cahill, “Frankpa”
Documentary
2nd place, Marguerite Wolanske, “Need to Nurture”
Australia Award
Public Service Announcement
2nd place, Lauren Burd and Barbara Jones, “Live”
1st place, Laura Holland and Eleanor McKenney, “A False Reality”
Documentary
2nd place, Lily Lemkau and Jackie Shannon, “Surviving more than just the News”
1st place, Maddie McLane and Ellen Pucel, “Prospect for Change”
Judges’ Choice Awards
Public Service Announcements
1st place- A False Reality by Laura Holland and Eleanor McKenney
2nd place, Don’t Destroy Creation by Stephanie Jordan
Documentary
1st place- Surviving more than just the News by Lily Lemkau and Jackie Shannon,
2nd place – Prospect for Change by Maddie McLane and Ellen Pucel
Freeform
1st place – Tide by Claire Uygur
2nd place – Aesthetic Dictionary by Ava Bloom and Sophia Brusco
Creative
1st place – Chemistry by Riley Doyle, Agatha Ryan, and Cynthia Thomas
2nd place – Frankpa by Georgina Cahill
Audience Choice Awards
Public Service Announcement
Claire Uygur, “1 in 5”
Documentary
Lily Lemkau and Jackie Shannon, “Surviving more than just the News”
Freeform
Claire Uygur, “Tide”
Creative
Georgina Cahill, “Frankpa”
Correction:
A previous version of this article incorrectly reported that Ms. Ellyn Stewart introduced the hosts of the festival. Mr. Chris Ryan, father of Agatha Ryan ’16 introduced the hosts.
– Cheyann Greirson, Co-News Editor