The fifth year of the Flint Youth Film Festival featured 32 films, submitted by more than 130 young filmmakers and judged by media professionals from around the United States.
The program didn’t end the way it typically does, though, with a ceremony at the Flint Institute of Arts. The COVID-19 pandemic caused organizers to shift the award presentations to a virtual format.
But the lack of an in-person awards ceremony doesn’t mean award winners’ films won’t still be seen at the FIA. Throughout August, the work of award winners will be exhibited at the FIA in the Media Arts Gallery.
Festival director Justin Brown and assistant director Jessi Opperthauser co-hosted the event during a July 23 stream and a recorded version is available online. They even had special guests, including U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, who joined to present one of the awards.
“Michigan has always had a proud tradition of cultivating creative artists,” Peters said in his award presentation. “Especially during these challenging times, it’s great to see our state’s innovation on full display.”
The festival is part of the Flint Youth Media Project, which introduces filmmaking to people ages 13-30 and college students. Participants engage in workshops and get opportunities to share and get feedback on their work from peers, professional writers and filmmakers, and the public.
The full list of award winners is below. They can be seen at the FIA through Aug. 31. The FIA is open to the public, under these guidelines.
2020 Winners
13-15 Achievement Awards
· “On Edge” - Gio Orlando
· “The Hunt” - Ryan Blackwood
16-19 Nonfiction
· 1st Place: “Elli’s House | Charity Week 2020” - Noah Scudder
· 2nd Place: “The Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative” - Grace Bright and Grace Joo
· 3rd Place: “Mission: Puerto Rico” - Tyler Harding
16-19 Fiction
· 1st Place: “OVERGROWN” - Corey Jarvinen
· 2nd Place: “Standoff” - Corey Jarvinen
· 3rd Place: “The Incident at the Pier” - Abby Bright & Grace Joo
PSAs
· 1st Place: “CoronApetite” - Ali DeCesare
· 2nd Place: “Keye PSA” - Julien York
20-25 Nonfiction
· 1st Place: “Connecting Kin” - Olivia York
· 2nd Place: “The Moistest Museum” - Casey Iles, Tessa Osborne, Celia Lochkos
· 3rd Place: “Side Hustlers” - Kara Headley
20-25 Fiction
· 1st Place: “The Smile I Wear” - Antonio Corsi
· 2nd Place: “Par Avion” - Parker Keye Eisen
· 3rd Place: “neurasthenia” -Merek Alam
Craft Awards
Writing
16-19 Nonfiction
· “The Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative” - Grace Bright & Grace Joo
16-19 Fiction
· “OVERGROWN” - Corey Jarvinen
20-25 Nonfiction
· “Connecting Kin” - Olivia York
20-25 Fiction
· “The Smile I Wear” - Antonio Corsi
Cinematography
16-19 Nonfiction
· “Elli’s House | Charity Week 2020” - Noah Scudder
16-19 Fiction
· “Standoff” - Caleb Jarvinen
20-25 Nonfiction
· “Connecting Kin” - Humaira Newaz & Olivia York
20-25 Fiction
· “The Most Desirable” - Antonio Corsi
Directing
16-19 Nonfiction
· “The Walker Literacy Center” - Audrey Parks
16-19 Fiction
· “OVERGROWN” - Corey Jarvinen
20-25 Nonfiction
· “Connecting Kin” - Olivia York
20-25 Fiction
· “The Smile I Wear” - Antonio Corsi
Audience Choice
· “On Edge” - Gio Orlando
Heart Award
· “Connecting Kin” - Olivia York
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