The Directors Guild of America announced the winners of the 2013 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 minority and women directors in film schools and select universities across the country.
“We’re pleased to recognize the outstanding work of these talented young directors through the DGA Student Film Awards, part of our ongoing commitment to encouraging diversity in the filmmaking community,” DGA president Paris Barclay said. “These young filmmakers represent the best in student filmmaking today and we look forward to seeing more of their work in the future.”
The 2013 winners, selected by blue ribbon DGA member panels, are:
Best African American Student Filmmaker:
Award Winner: Dehanza Shreen Rogers of UCLA for Sweet, Sweet Country
Jury Award: Steven Caple Jr. of USC for A Different Tree
Best Asian American Student Filmmaker:
Award Winner: Margot Ye of UCLA for Out of the Blue
Jury Award: Puja Maewal of UCLA for JAYA
Best Latino Student Filmmaker:
Award Winner: Aaron Martinez of AFI for Dirty Laundry
Jury Award: Melanie D’Andrea of USC for STAND
Best Woman Student Filmmaker:
Award Winner: Tara Atashgah of Brooks Institute for For the Birds
Jury Award: Melissa Hickey of AFI for Ni-Ni
The films will be screened and the awards will be presented in a ceremony Nov. 7 at the Directors Guild of America Theater in Los Angeles. The winners for the East Region will be announced later this month, with the winning films screened and the awards presented in a ceremony Dec. 4 at the Directors Guild of America Theater in New York.
