PRSFF 18
Now in it's second annual cycle, the Pine River Student Film Festival is back! The 2018 edition, planned and directed by Alma College student Zachary Baker, has received over 1,400 submissions from around the world.
Just like last year, Audience Awards will be presented to the films that receive the most votes at each category's screening. Grand Jury Awards will be granted to the films that PRSFF's panel of judges, world-class scholars and critics, decide are the best of each category.
Here is a recap of the 2018 Pine River Student Film Festival, and a video announcing this year's award winners!
Thank you for a great festival season, and we will see you in 2019!
audience award winners
Still from The Elephant in the Room, winner of the Audience Award for High School Narrative.
The Elephant in the Room
directed by fox helms
A father and son struggle to maintain a relationship and overcome the obstacles that neither can acknowledge.
Still from Beauty Reboot, winner of the Audience Award for High School Documentary
Beauty Reboot
directed by emily hay
A short documentary about how women, whether they are going through the journey of cancer or some other incredibly difficult time, are beautiful—no matter what.
Still from For the Love of Cinema, winner of the Audience Award for College Narrative.
For the Love of Cinema
directed byriley sugars
An elderly man named Gerald has his life thrown into disarray after the death of his wife Rosemary.
Still from Diego, winner of the Audience Award for College Documentary.
Diego
directed by kristin zimney
An undocumented immigrant's fight to keep the American Dream alive after President Trump's decision to rescind the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program.
Grand Jury award winners
Still from Jasmine Stung, winner of the Grand Jury Award for High School Narrative.
Jasmine Stung
directed by partho gupte
Jasmine Stung follows a 10 year old child worker trying to sell jasmine flower strings on a hot and busy Mumbai street, in the hope of getting his little sister her first meal of the day.
Still from Beauty Reboot, winner of the Grand Jury Award for High School Documentary
Beauty Reboot
directed by emily hay
A short documentary about how women, whether they are going through the journey of cancer or some other incredibly difficult time, are beautiful—no matter what.
Still from La Estación, winner of the Grand Jury Award for College Narrative.
La Estación
Javier Chacártegui
The story of Gregorio: an old man who, after dying, ends up at a train station in the middle of nowhere wearing nothing but his pajamas.
Still from Veterans, winner of the Grand Jury Award for College Documentary.
Veterans
Directed by Shaool Levy, Romy Granot, Ofri Shayn, Julia Tractenberg, Tsach Nachmias, Shalom Filtzer & Shira Avigad
To commemorate 70 years since the end of World War II, a group of 2nd year animation students from Sapir Academic College produced a film that focuses on the personal experiences of Jewish warriors who fought along the Allied Forces, the Soviet Union and the Partisans during the war.
official selections
high school narrative
Still from TOBY, official selection for High School Narrative.
TOBY
Directed by Will peppercorn
Toby is on his second gap year, determined to make it the best year of his life. But unfortunately things are not looking that way. That is until he joins a mum cult..
Still from You Are My Angel, official selection for High School Narrative.
You Are My Angel
Directed by Sophia Berlin
A girl has to make the decision whether or not to go back into her house that is burning down to save a necklace.
Still from Stupidly Happy, official selection for High School Narrative.
Stupidly Happy
directed by Jonathan Rome
A man struggles to seek happiness in a balloon.
Still from OLD BLOO, official selection for High School Narrative.
OLD BLOO
directed by jack nordstrom
Idaho teenagers start an unconventional rock band in their garage.
Still from Critic, official selection for High School Narrative.
Critic
directed by Harry osborn
After writing her latest scathing review, a young food critic decides to try her hand at baking...
Still from Insomnia, official selection for High School Narrative.
Insomnia
directed by michelle c. yu
After having confusing and disturbing dreams, teenager Josh Braxton struggles to decipher what is real and what is imaginative.
Still from Jasmine Stung, official selection for High School Narrative.
Jasmine Stung
directed by partho gupte
Jasmine Stung follows a 10 year old child worker trying to sell jasmine flower strings on a hot and busy Mumbai street, in the hope of getting his little sister her first meal of the day.
Still from Tomfool, official selection for High School Narrative.
Tomfool
directed by Mihai Nichiforeac
A story about human curiosity and how it can pay back in kafkaesque fashion.
Still from SIIN, official selection for High School Narrative.
SIIN
directed by grace zhang
"siin" is a film that explores the nature of innocence, or rather, the lack thereof. Does it live within us? Does it fester until we must confront it?
Still from Charles, official selection for High School Narrative.
Charles
directed by hayden church
In an attempt to score the girl of his dreams, teenage Gabe turns to the most unlikely of places.
Still from Moonlight, official selection for High School Narrative.
Moonlight
directed by Mitch Metivier
After buying her first used car, a young woman begins to encounter an abundance of strange occurrences surrounding her most recent purchase.
Still from The Elephant in the Room, official selection for High School Narrative.
The Elephant in the Room
directed by fox helms
A father and son struggle to maintain a relationship and overcome the obstacles that neither can acknowledge.
Still from An Unexpected Passenger, official selection for High School Narrative.
An Unexpected Passenger
directed by joel liss
A lonely drive down a long, dark road. Jacob better check the back seat.
Still from The Audition, official selection for High School Narrative.
The Audition
directed by andrew kim
A high school student encounters a problem at an orchestra audition.
high school documentary
Still from Recovery in the Keys, official selection for High School Documentary.
Recovery in the Keys
directed by Robbie Shinder
On September 26th, 2017, just over two weeks after Hurricane Irma made landfall in South Florida, a group of students from Palm Beach County, FL traveled to Key West, FL to give aid to those in need. These are the stories of the residents of Key West.
Still from Passionfruit, official selection for High School Documentary.
Passionfruit
directed by Ashley Martinez
The story of an avocado farmer who is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
Still from Grit, official selection for High School Documentary.
Grit
directed by blake sepe
A recounting of a Vietnam General's acts of valor and strength during his service in the Vietnam War.
Still from Beauty Reboot, official selection for High School Documentary.
Beauty Reboot
directed by emily hay
A short documentary about how women, whether they are going through the journey of cancer or some other incredibly difficult time, are beautiful—no matter what.
Still from Soulfege, official selection for High School Documentary.
Soulfege
directed by Kyle Farscht
A documentary following an all high school student-run A Cappella group going into a competition.
Still from The Pirate's Life For Me, official selection for High School Documentary.
The Pirate's Life For Me
directed by hayden church
Profile documentary on William LeClere, local pirate.
Still from Mosaic Ministries, official selection for High School Documentary.
Mosaic Ministries
Directed by Joel Helmick
"Mosaic Ministries" takes a look at the impoverished neighborhood of Southern Toledo, Ohio and how groups like Mosaic are turning it around.
Still from Reinventing JV B, official selection for High School Documentary.
Reinventing JV B
directed by Rachel Goodman
Emily Levine changes the narrative and perception of the Athens soccer program by becoming the first person to play on the JVB (freshman) team for four years.
Still from Solidarity, official selection for High School Documentary.
Solidarity
directed by Sylvia Gabriel
A short documentary about the people who participated in the Women's March on Washington on January 21st, 2016 after the Inauguration of Donald J. Trump.
Still from Yellow House, official selection for High School Documentary.
Yellow House
directed by alyce rogers
After working at a well-known art museum for 22 years, Hope McMath decided to create her own unique art exhibition.
Still from The Price of Pink, official selection for High School Documentary.
The Price of Pink
created by katie barr, claire durney, brianna kakos, jane simonetti, clarissa lam & alexandra petrus
A film examining the gendering and unequal pricing of products in marketing, and how it promotes gender bias in our society.
Still from Total Solar Eclipse, official selection for High School Documentary.
Total Solar Eclipse
directed by Mathias Foster
The total solar eclipse in Madras, Oregon is captured by drone, camera, and phone. The beauty of nature leaves everyone awestruck.
Still from In Twenty Years, official selection for High School Documentary.
In Twenty Years
Created by Josh Jaffe, Adam Kubota, Matt Querdasi & Jackson Mercogliano
Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. What will this city look like in twenty years?
Still from The Fabric of America, official selection for High School Documentary.
The Fabric of America
created by Alyssa Berrios, Merry Hailegeorgies, Gabe Hoekman, Verite Igiraneza, Avi Krishan, Sophie Lucarelli, Juliet Marschall & Juan ortiz
It's a tough time to be an immigrant in America. How do these complex and controversial issues affect people locally in Montgomery County, Maryland?
Still from The Story of Life, official selection for High School Documentary.
The Story of Life
directed by brett g. kim
A documentary detailing the life of ten-year-old Ethan Posner, his three-year battle against cancer, and how his devotion to reading drove him to give back.
Still from Middleweight, official selection for High School Documentary.
Middleweight
directed by jeremy kemp
Former professional middleweight boxer Alan Kemp reflects on his early life and boxing career.
college narrative
Still from Meticulous, official selection for College Narrative.
Meticulous
directed by samantha chalmers
A trained assassin narrates a typical day in his life.
Still from Blackground, official selection for College Narrative.
Blackground
Directed by Nic L. Kelly
When Kadeem Farrell decides to attend a Hollywood audition for the role of a defiant field slave, "Nigger Joe”, he draws some ironic suspicion from his fellow actors due to his light complexion. Seeing it as the opportunity of a lifetime Kadeem remains undeterred.
Still from La Estación, official selection for College Narrative.
La Estación
directed by Javier Chacártegu
The story of Gregorio: an old man who, after dying, ends up at a train station in the middle of nowhere wearing nothing but his pajamas.
Still from Scrambled, official selection for College Narrative.
Scrambled
directed by ben ashby
A bickering couple have an unconventional night out.
Still from Bars, official selection for College Narrative.
Bars
directed by Minenhle Luthuli
Precious wakes up in an unusual prison cell and must face a difficult decision in order to escape.
Still from Decloud, official selection for College Narrative.
Decloud
directed by tony Rungsawang
While attending a funeral he has no desire in being in, Jesse is approached by an old friend, Kevin, who persuades him to ditch the funeral in search of Decloud, a skate park hidden in deep in the Electric Forest.
Still from Average Fellas, official selection for College Narrative.
Average Fellas
directed by kim stratton
When he gets kidnapped by the Mafia on his birthday, Max, a Gangster Film fanatic, soon learns that it's not a birthday prank.
Still from For the Love of Cinema, official selection for College Narrative.
For the Love of Cinema
directed by riley sugars
An elderly man named Gerald has his life thrown into disarray after the death of his wife Rosemary.
Still from Focus, official selection for College Narrative.Still from Scrambled, official selection for College Narrative.
Focus
directed by Radheya Jegatheva
The eyes are pathways to the soul, and when the eyes are able to focus, that pathway becomes clearer. A lone girl studying in her room encounters a sinister creature.
Still from The Bump, official selection for College Narrative.
The Bump
directed by alexander desouza
A young real estate agent is forced to make a difficult choice after an unusual drive home.
Still from Shellshock, official selection for College Narrative.
Shellshock
directed by Danilo Zambrano
A young boy develops a friendship with his breakfast. When his dad suggests drawing a face on a hard boiled egg, Eddie's best friend Wallace is born.
college documentary
Still from Diego, official selection for College Documentary.
Diego
directed by Kristin Zimney
An undocumented immigrant's fight to keep the American Dream alive after President Trump's decision to rescind the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program.
Still from Dragtivists, official selection for College Documentary.
Dragtivists
directed by savannah rodgers
Dragtivists is a short documentary about the intersection of activism and drag performance.
Still from Veterans, official selection for College Documentary.
Veterans
directed by Shaool Levy, Romy Granot, Ofri Shayn, Julia Tractenberg, Tsach Nachmias, Shalom Filtzer & Shira Avigad
To commemorate 70 years since the end of World War II, a group of 2nd year animation students from Sapir Academic College produced a film that focuses on the personal experiences of Jewish warriors who fought along the Allied Forces, the Soviet Union and the Partisans during the war.
Still from The Gray Area, official selection for College Documentary.
The Gray Area
Directed by Melany Rochester
A short documentary that explores how cannabis businesses are able to operate under current cannabis laws, and delves into the racial disparities of the law in Washington D.C. and in the United States.
Still from Every Grain of Rice, official selection for College Documentary.
Every Grain of Rice
directed by carol nguyen
They say it only takes three generations for a culture to assimilate - An exploration of losing one's culture and identity through the metaphor of recipes and food.
Still from A Tune of Devotion, official selection for College Documentary.
A Tune of Devotion
directed by Varun Chounal
Sufism is the centerpiece around which revolve the stories of three artists and their interpretations of what Sufism entails.
Still from The Tipping Point, official selection for College Documentary.
The Tipping Point
directed by Danielle Cohen
The Tipping Point examines the issue of defunding and the silencing of science in today’s changing political climate.
Still from Joshua Messick: Hammered Dulcimer, official selection for College Documentary.
Joshua Messick: Hammered Dulcimer
directed by Ryan Trenkamp
Joshua Messick, national hammered dulcimer champion, shares the story of his art and creative process.