High Maintenance, written and directed by Columbia University School of the Arts Film Program student Shawn Wines, and produced by alumna Brigitte Liebowitz ('10SOA), won the Silver Medal in the Narrative category on June 11 at the 38th Annual Student Academy Awards, a competition for college and university filmmakers.
Wines is one of 12 U.S. students -- and the only winning filmmaker from the Eastern region -- who was brought to Los Angeles for a week of industry-related activities and social events, culminating in the awards ceremony June 11 at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal awards, along with accompanying cash grants, were presented in each of the four categories: Alternative, Animation, Documentary and Narrative.
The students first competed in one of three regional competitions. Each region could then send up to three finalists in each category to the Academy, and Academy members screened the finalists' films and voted to select the winners. In addition, 3 foreign students, from a pool of 52 international entries, were selected and traveled to L.A.
High Maintenance screened and received Faculty Honors at this year's Columbia University Film Festival; Wines is also developing the film as a feature. He is a fourth-year directing concentrate student in the Film Program.
Wines' nomination continues a reputable streak for the School of the Arts. Film Program alumna Liz Chae ('09SOA) won the Gold Medal in the Documentary category in 2009 for her film The Last Mermaids, and alumna J. J. Adler won the Silver Medal in Documentary in 2008 for Unattached.
High Maintenance, by Shawn Wines
