Seven works by students in the Ballard High School Video Production Program won prizes at the 15th Annual Derek Freese High School Film & Video Festival in December. More than 60 high school student films from all over the country were submitted to the festival, which were judged by filmmakers and professors from Temple University's School of Film & Media Arts in Philadelphia.
Ballard High School filmmakers won every award in the documentary category. First prize went to Robyn Cochrane, Spencer Miller, Georgia Peck and Justin Smith-Mercado for Bar Ink, the story of a youth who discovers and develops his talent in spite of incarceration. Amelia Elizalde, Levi Friedman, Sean Hendricks and Sheridan Koehler took second prize for Henry, about the Seattle muralist of that name. Third prize went to Tony Meyer, Matt Law-Phipps and James Vitz-Wong for Seattle Street Musicians. John Christensen, Rikke Heinecke, Blair Scott and Allie Stock won the "Best Documentary Screenplay" prize for Split Mind, the story of a family's experience with schizophrenia.
In the "Best Fiction" category, Ballard High School students won three prizes. First prize went to Emily Deering, Amelia Elizalde and Blair Scott for the dramatic short Buy, Sell, Trade. Second prize went to Matt Law-Phipps, Tony Meyer and Ryan Zemke for their dystopian vision, Real World. "Best Fiction Screenplay" went to Rikke Heinecke, Tony Meyer and Lizzy O'Laughlin for Signs, a story of hope for the homeless.
This marks the eighth year in a row that productions by students from Ballard High School have been finalists in the festival, and the third time they have also won top prizes. To learn more about the festival and awards, visit www.freesefilmfestival.org/news.
Check Out Some of the Films at a Showing in February
Two of the Ballard High School student films will receive Seattle premieres on Friday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Ballard High School auditorium. The double feature will include the dramatic short Buy, Sell, Trade, by Emily Deering, Amelia Elizalde and Blair Scott, and Real World, the dystopian vision of Matt Law-Phipps, Tony Meyer and Ryan Zemke. Tickets are $5 and will be sold at the door.
