(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- On Saturday, June 3, 2023, Montclair Film held the Awards Ceremony for its annual Emerging Filmmakers Competition. All the winning films were presented on the big screen at The Clairidge, and the filmmakers participated in a Q&A following their film. Executive Producer and Director Rasheed Daniels served as the emcee for the event. All the winners were then celebrated at a Red- Carpet Reception at Cinema505.
Montclair Film’s Emerging Filmmakers Competition celebrates the work of high school filmmakers. Hundreds of films were submitted for the competition and reviewed by a jury of industry professionals. 42 awards were presented to 19 films in 7 categories (Drama, Comedy, Horror, Experimental, Social Impact, Romance, Animation). The awards also included two special jury prizes (in Cinematography and Production Design) and the EFC Grand Prize.
“We are so thrilled to celebrate and showcase the exceptional talents of these young filmmakers,” commented Education Director Sue Hollenberg. “The quality of this year's films was truly exceptional, highlighting the immense creativity and dedication of these emerging artists. It is an honor to witness their passion and to provide a platform for their voices to be heard.”
Submissions for the 2024 Emerging Screenwriters Competition will open in February 2024.
Montclair Film, a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization connects filmmakers from around the region and world with audiences by presenting films and year-round programs that engage, educate, and entertain through the power of visual storytelling. In addition to owning and operating The Clairidge, Montclair’s six screen art house cinema, the organization also hosts the annual Montclair Film Festival which will take place from October 20-29, 2023.
2023 Montclair Film Emerging Filmmaker Competition Winners
2023 EFC Grand Prize Winner
What’s So Funny?
Jose Santos
Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology
Drama
Grand Prize: Dream Girl Katie Pak, and Sydney Chang West Essex High School
Special Jury Prize: Between
Gabby DeRugeriis, Isabella Campion, Kate Cashion, Grace Wilson & Kirsten Prefer, Nick Kouvaras
Middletown High School South
Comedy
Grand Prize: First Date
Michael DeMar, Caroline Sheridan, Derek Wiener Park Ridge High School
Special Jury Prize: I Don’t Get It Rhiannon Rueda, Bergen County Technical High School
Special Jury Prize: The Jerry Condition Harrison Hahne-Lum, Declan Duggan Newmark Education High School
Social Impact
Grand Prize: Uncertain. Dylan Graham Baddeley Montclair High School
Special Jury Prize: Behind The Silence Brianna Pares
Passaic County Tech
Special Jury Prize: Anxiety
Kristina Ashleigh Decker
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
Animation
Grand Prize: Uncertain Dylan Graham Baddeley Montclair High School
Special Jury Prize: Wild Animals Steven Minaya
Perth Amboy High School
Horror
Grand Prize: The Perfect Muse
Dezire Hayward and Sarah Monteiro Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology
Special Jury Prize: Throughout the Mirrors Luisa Santos and Brianna Barnett
Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology
Special Jury Prize: Sugar Rush
Jay Fielding, Chloe Davis, Mary Rafferty, Kira Johnson, Middletown High School South
Experimental
Grand Prize: Panic
Maura Collins, Mia Dimitry, Joe DeMarco, and Sean O'Grady, Middletown High School South
Special Jury Prize: In the Midnight Rain Ainsley Holden Fitz
Warren Hills Regional High School
Romance
Grand Prize: Love Bites
Maura Collins, Joe Costa, Stephen Sassano, Darla Matches and Ava Romano, Middletown High School South
Production Design
Special Jury Prize: Opening Night
Genevieve Cai, Leah Waessa, Willow Killebrew Howell High School + Livingston High School
Cinematography:
Special Jury Prize: Tunnel Lights Nicholas Giordano
Pascack Valley High School
EFC Judges
Evan Baily - Evan Baily develops and produces TV series and movies. His credits include Sonic Boom, LazyTown, Invader Zim, and Frank & Zed.
Rasheed Daniel - Rasheed J. Daniel is the owner of TeamSheed productions based in Montclair. He’s a seasoned executive producer and director known for: a new green book, Black Ink Crew, real housewives of New Jersey and what not to wear.
Mark Fitzmartin - Mark Fitzmartin is a veteran line producer, EP, and AD with 20+ years in the Directors Guild of America. He has also participated in the Education Advisory Committee of the Montclair Film Festival since its inception.
Amy Friedman - Amy Friedman is the Head of Kids and Family Programming for Warner Brothers. She loves supporting emerging filmmakers as they find their own voices.
Montclair Film is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and all programs are made possible with funds from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism, as well as the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, among many others. Montclair Film provides unique and meaningful ways to engage with diverse, creative, and sophisticated audiences and seeks sponsors for its signature film festival, educational programs, and other year-round community events that attract more than 46,000 annual attendees and generate more than 800 million media impressions yearly.
