BALLARD FILM STUDENTS WIN REGIONAL FESTIVAL

Nate Sawtell, Dylan Spence, and Louis Weissman have been named winners in the Teen Division of the 35th Annual Young People’s Film & Video Festival for their digital film Safe at Last.

This competitive regional festival is coordinated by the Northwest Film Center in Portland, Oregon. It accepts entries from students in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Alaska. This year’s winners were selected from over 300 entries by a panel of filmmakers and educators. Celebrating originality, freshness, authenticity and conviction in the voices of young filmmakers, the Festival is divided into two sections: a Kids Division of works created by youth K-8, and a Teen Division of works created by teens in grades 9 – 12. This is the seventh year in a row that students in the BHS Video Production Program have been winners at the event.

The Festival Winners of the Teen Division will be screened on Saturday, November 19 at 1 p.m. at the Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park, Portland, Oregon). Following the screening, there will be a reception and panel discussion for winners and audience members to meet this year's festival jurors. The event is free, and the public is welcome to attend.

BHS VIDEO STUDENTS HONORED AT REGIONAL EMMY AWARDS

Ballard High School Video Production students Matt Law-Phipps, Tony Meyer and James Vitz-Wong were named winners of the High School Award for Excellence at the 48th Annual Northwest Regional Emmy Awards on Saturday, June 11. The students won the Long-Form (Non-Fiction) category with their documentary Seattle Street Performers.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences gives student awards to recognize the best in student television production. The regional awards celebrate outstanding work from five Northwest states: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. Entries are judged by the same professional organization that selects Emmy winners. This makes the fifth year in a row that students in the Ballard High School Video Production Program have been winners at the event.

Eight other Ballard High School video productions had also been nominated: two in the Long-Form (Non-Fiction) category, one in the Long-Form (Fiction) category, three in the Public Affairs category, and two in the Public Service Announcement category.