Award-winning short films by UCS students to appear on the big screen

Utica Community Schools students who earned top awards in a statewide film competition will soon get to see their work on the big screen.

Emagine Theatres and Utica Community Schools are partnering to present “A Filmmaker’s Evening” on June 17 at the Emagine Theatre of Macomb.

The invitation-only event will screen the 39 films produced by UCS students that were in the Digital Arts, Film & Television (DAFT) 47th annual student film festival competition.

The main goal of DAFT’s annual Michigan Student Film Festival is to provide encouragement and support to young people who are already creating media by acknowledging their efforts, rewarding their finest accomplishments and offering opportunities for study and advancement.

Each entry is reviewed by educational and media professionals and their feedback is sent to student filmmakers to prompt growth and reflection on their filmmaking skills and approach.

In recognition of its work, DAFT was awarded the 2006 Governor’s Award for Arts & Culture. DAFT’s mission is to promote media literacy through the creative use of film and video.

The American Film Institute says that DAFT’s Michigan Student Film & Video Festival is the oldest festival in the nation providing public recognition for the work of students in grades K-12.

UCS work and students honored in the competition are:

2015 Junior Best of Show

• Courageous Clay by Allison Soffa and Emily Ouemlaz
• Haunted by Allessandra Leco

2015 Junior Excellence

• Cool Kids by Sarah Faloon, Christina Stickley and Lauren Pietryga
• Centuries by Zaid Sweis, Kane Stone, Christian George and Austin Fite
• Do Better by Anna-Lise Borowski

All junior award winners attend Shelby Junior High School.

2015 Senior Best of Show

• Ornaments by Aric Prebelich, of Henry Ford II High School

2015 Senior Excellence

• So Wear a Seat Belt by PJ Michalski and Tyler Lee of Henry Ford II High School
• It Only Takes A Second Texting and Driving PSA by Camren Clouthier of Henry Ford II High School
• The Elliott Story by Camren Clouthie, Jamison Demaj and PJ Michalski of Henry Ford II High School
• 2014 Henry Ford II Dodgeball Tournament, by Camren Clouthier of Henry Ford II High School
• The Enlightenment by Maria Meade of Henry Ford II High School
• Ghost by Isaiah Terry of Henry Ford II High School
• iear You Commercial by Isaiah Terry, Evan Lugo, Olivia Stevers, Shannon McAleer and Mariam Shabo of Henry Ford II High School
• Insanium by Isaiah Terry of Henry Ford II High School
• Refugee by Isaiah Terry, Evan Lugo, Matt Siladke and Maddox Zurawski of Henry Ford II High School
• Tenebrosi Somnia by Isaiah Terry of Henry Ford II High School
• Fireworks - Animal Collective (Indian Celebration of Holi) by Maria Meade of Henry Ford II High School
• The Phone Call - Scary Movie by Benjamin Murphy and Peyton Thomas of Henry Ford II High School
• PSA Honesty by Benjamin Murphy, Peyton Thomas and Maxx Martinof Henry Ford II High School
• The Detroit Zoo Commercial by Aric Prebelich of Henry Ford II High School
• Fury - Centuries Music Video by Aric Prebelich of Henry Ford II High School
• Good Enough by Aric Prebelich of Henry Ford II High School
• Arts And Idols Commercial 2015 by Aric Prebelich, Camren Clouthier, Madison Lindaman and PJ Michalski of Henry Ford II High School
• Las Vegas Promo by Cameron Pablo of Henry Ford II High School
• Detroit Zoo by Cameron Pablo of Henry Ford II High School

2015 Senior Honor

• Davey & Channy go to Prom by David Lester, Chandler Beleck, Julia Lucido and Miranda Steffen of Eisenhower High School.
• Gravity music video by Camren Clouthier of Henry Ford II High School
• Suicide PSA by PJ Michalski of Henry Ford II High School
• The Becoming by Jalen D. Spencer of Henry Ford II High School
• Zoo Film Project by Isaiah Terry of Henry Ford II High School
• The Phone Call by PJ Michalski, Tyler Lee, Madison Lindaman and Nick Vasseur of Henry Ford II High School
• His Name is Robert Paulsen by Nick Vasseur of Henry Ford II High School
• A Day in San Francisco by Maria Meade of Henry Ford II High School
• Michigan Youth Arts Festival 2014 by Aric Prebelich, Camren Clouthier of Henry Ford II High School
• Put The Phone Down PSA by Aric Prebelich of Henry Ford II High School
• Daemon by Isaiah Terry, David Brazier, Shannon McAleer, Hollie Andrusz and Maddox Zurawski of Henry Ford II High School
• Kryptonite by Nick Vasseur of Henry Ford II High School

2015 Senior Merit

• Reaching High by Ashley Fearncombe of Henry Ford II High School
• TNT, Dynamite by Nick Vasseur of Henry Ford II High School
• Fight Club Trailer by Nick Vasseur of Henry Ford II High School

The projects were supported by teachers Lisa Grunewald of Shelby Junior High School, Joe Elliot of Henry Ford II High School and Josephine Braun of Eisenhower High School.