Seven works by students in the Ballard High School Video Production Program were named Finalists for the Grand Prize at the 12th Annual Derek Freese High School Film & Video Festival. This prestigious festival drew competition from high school producers in all corners of the nation and was judged by professors from Temple University’s renowned film school and professional filmmakers. The festival took place in Philadephia at Temple’s Film and Media Arts department on May 31st.
The productions were “Checking Out” (a comedic narrative by Justin Amorratanasuchad, Jacob Fabian & Annalee Milar), “Brotherly Love” (also a comedic narrative by Colin Colebrook, Mohamed Kassim & Devon Rensberger), “4th Floor” (an eerie drama by Coburn Erskine, Sami Kubo & Nolan O’Connor), “Seattle Needle Exchange” (a documentary by Coburn Erskine, William Pierce & Ben Steiner), “Domestic Disturbance: One Family’s Struggle” (a documentary by Justin Amorratanasuchad, Colin Colebrook & Lilah Horwitz), “Ladies in Armor” (a documentary by Diana Federighi, Sami Kubo & Audra McCafferty), and “Spaced Out” (a satiric narrative by Justin Amorratanasuchad, Michael Hipp & Devan Sizemore).
At the conclusion of the festival, the documentary “Ladies in Armor” was awarded 2nd Prize. This is a real honor, as Temple has one of the most respected programs for documentary production in the country.
This marks the fifth year in a row that productions by students from the Ballard High School Video Program have been Finalists in the Derek Freese Festival, and the third time they’ve been prize-winners.
