Columbia Filmmakers Sweep 25th Annual Palm Springs International ShortFest

Many Columbia students and alumni took home awards at the 2019 Palm Springs Shortfest last week, the largest short film festival in North America.

Palm Springs International Film Society shows over 300 short films and welcomes filmmakers from all over the globe during the festival, which ran from June 18-24 this year. The Palm Springs International ShortFest, celebrating its 25th anniversary, is the largest short film event in North America. A highly competitive festival, ShortFest receives 5,000 submissions from over 100 countries around the globe. Approximately 325 shorts are selected and screened in 90-minute themed programs, with many of the remaining titles available for viewing in the Market. An Oscar, BAFTA, and Los Premios Goya-qualifying festival, ShortFest has presented more than 100 shorts that have gone on to receive Oscar nominations and/or awards. With hundreds of filmmakers and industry professionals in attendance and an audience of 22,000 avid filmgoers, ShortFest is defined by a decidedly casual atmosphere and a taste for the unconventional. 

Manila is Full of Men Named Boy, written and directed by Andrew Stephen Lee ‘18, won Best U.S. Short. The film was co-written by Emre Gulcan '17 and current student Neda Jebelli. The film was executive produced by Valerie Castillo Martinez '16 and co-produced by Mica Coburn '17.

Night Swim, co-written and directed by current student Victoria Rivera, won Best Student Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under. The film was produced by current student Camilla Zavalla and co-written by current student Neda Jebelli. 

Truck Slut, written and directed by current student Ryan Craver, received Special Mention in the category of Best Emerging Student Filmmaker. The film was produced by Ryan Craver and Taylor Ortega ‘18.

Green, written and directed by Suzanne Andrews Correa '17, received Special Mention in the category of Bridging the Borders. The film was co-written and produced by Mustafa Kaymak ‘17 and co-written and directed by Suzanne Andrews Correa '17. The film was assistant directed by Nicolás Becerra '18, line produced by Mark Castillo '17 and edited by Pınar Yorgancıoğlu '16.

Also selected for recognition was Dios Nunca Muerte, written and directed by Barbara Cigarroa, produced and co-written by Julie O’Leary ‘16 and produced by Mica Coburn ‘17, and Curandera, written and directed by Mauricio Rivera Hoffman ‘18.

Congratulations to all!