West Orange High School Alum Basks In Sundance Film Fest Glory

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the West Orange Public School District. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

West Orange High School Class of 2010 alum Film Editor, Director, and Producer Matt Stryker continues to impress the film industry, taking the Sundance Film Festival Short Film Program 3 Grand Jury Prize on Jan. 27 for "When You Left Me On That Boulevard."

The film was written and directed by Kayla Abuda Galang. Stryker served as Editor and Assistant Director for the film, along with Galang. “When You Left Me On That Boulevard” features a lively Thanksgiving family gathering through the eyes of a teenager and her cousins. The film is an homage to Galang's coming-of-age in Paradise Hills in southeast San Diego. Hair styles were choppy, jeans were skinny, the music was loud, and the feelings were big for a generation of Filipino American teenagers.

According to the Sundance Film Festival Blog:

The Short Film Grand Jury Prize presented by Shutterstock was awarded to "When You Left Me On That Boulevard"/USA (Director and Screenwriter: Kayla Abuda Galang, Producers: Alifya Ali, David Oconer, Udoy Rahim, Samantha Skinner) — Teenager Ly and her cousins get high before a boisterous family Thanksgiving at their auntie’s house in southeast San Diego in 2006. Cast: Kailyn Dulay, Melissa Arcaya, Elle Rodriguez, Whitney Agustin, Gina May Gimongala, Allan Wayne Anderson. Jury citation: From the first moment, we were fully on board for this rowdy ride. An uproarious take on extended family, irreverence and tradition with incredible attunement to details and frame. This directorial feat of freshness is our enthusiastic choice for the Sundance Grand Jury Short Film Prize."

Learn more about the film here.

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