The Directors Guild of America announced the winners of the 2014 DGA Student Film Awards for African American, Asian American, Latino and women directors in the west region. The awards are designed to honor, encourage and bring attention to exceptional diverse directors in film schools and select universities across the country.
“It is our honor to shine a spotlight on these gifted young directors through the 20th Annual DGA Student Film Awards,” said DGA president Paris Barclay. “The talent and promise demonstrated in their winning short films prove what the DGA has long believed – that exceptional filmmaking knows no boundaries.”
The 2014 winners for the west region are:
Best African American Student Filmmaker
Award Winner: Adam Tyree of USC for Without You
Jury Award: Stephanie Hoston of California State University, Northridge for Diana Leigh
Best Asian American Student Filmmaker
Award Winner: Yoko Okumura of AFI for Kimi Kabuki
Jury Award: Yoonhee Ye of AFI for MUSH
Best Latino Student Filmmaker
Award Winner: Maicon Desouza of USC for Pasaporte
Jury Award: Melanie D’Andrea of USC for South Arcadia St.
Best Woman Student Filmmaker
Award Winner: Shayna Cohen of Chapman University for Gefilte Fish
Jury Award: Jean Barker of Chapman University for One More Day
Competing films had to have been made as a student project under the supervision of a faculty member during the 2013-2014 school year. Dramas, comedies and documentaries are all eligible. Animated and experimental films are not.
The award-winning films will be screened and the awards will be presented in a ceremony at the Directors Guild of America Theater in Los Angeles on Thursday, Nov. 6.
The winners for the east region will be announced next month, with the winning films screened and the awards presented in a ceremony at the Directors Guild of America Theater in New York on Dec. 11.
