Film making is an art in itself in which the viewers are given the privilege to look at the world through the director’s eyes. Movies and documentaries have been a stellar part of our pop culture and have made a significant impact on its viewers. It isn’t surprising, therefore, that several avenues revere the filmmaker in you. One such avenue is the Student Academy Award, which is presented every by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The winners are selected from an array of talented college and universities filmmakers.
Most students who have an affinity towards art know that they want to pursue it as a career full time. However, getting into a filmmaking school requires one to have good grades. Scholars have to research, develop, and write papers on their field of study if they wish to further their education. Some may prefer to turn to various internet services with a request “write my paper for me,” if they are unsure of their ability as writers. Since an overall acceptable GPA is mandatory for one to get into film school, it is best if students do their best to maintain their grades.
What is the Student Academy Award?
The Student Academy Award was first presented in 1973 as a way to acclaim talented directors and filmmakers. The awards are presented in four categories after careful analysis of the story, ideas, skills, knowledge, and creation among the nominees. The categories are:
- Alternative films
- Animation
- Documentary, and
- Narrative.
The individuals who make it into the nominations compete for cash grants of $5000, $3000, and $2000 within each category. The winners of the awards are also eligible for the Oscars, a grand ceremony that felicitates the best of the best.
Many filmmakers who have achieved the Student Academy Award have gone to have successful careers in the movie viewing business. Some revered individuals include Bob Saget, Robert Zemeckis, Spike Lee, Trey Parker, John Lasseter, and Pete Docter.
The 2020 Student Academy Award
The 47th Student Academy Awards winners were announced on 15th September 2020 in a virtual ceremony among the industry’s talented creatives. There were altogether 1,474 entries out of which 15 have been selected as winners by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Out of the 18 winners, 13 are women. The winners are now eligible to be nominated in the Live Action Short Film, Animated Short Film, and Documentary Short Subject categories at the 2021 Oscars.
In the Alternative films category, ‘Simulacra’ directed by Curry Sicong Tian of the University of Southern California is now eligible to be nominated.
In the Animation category, the winners are:
- Ciervo, directed by Pilar Garcia-Fernandezsesma of Rhode Island School of Design.
- Hamsa, directed by Daniela Dwek, Maya Mendonca, and Chrisy Baek of the School of Visual Arts.
- Mime Your Manners, directed by Kate Namowicz and Skyler Porras of the Ringling College of Art & Design, and
- The Beauty, directed by Pascal Schelbli of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
In the Documentary category, the films eligible for the 2021 Oscars are:
- The Dope Years: The Story of Latasha Harlins, directed by Allison A. Waite of the University of Southern California
- Making Waves, directed by Laura Zéphirin of the New York University
- Unfinished Lives, directed by Yucong Chen of the University of Southern California, and
- Dear Father…, directed by Maren Klakegg of the Kristiania University College
In the Narrative category, the following films are eligible:
- Bittu, directed by Karishma Dube of the New York University
- Sweet Potatoes, directed by Rommel Villa Barriga of the University of Southern California
- Umama, directed by Talia Smith of the New York University
- Crescendo, directed by Percival Argüero Mendoza of the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica
- I Was Still There When You Left Me, directed by Marie Mc Court of the Institut des Arts de Diffusion, and
- My Dear Corpses, directed by German Golub of the Tallinn University
Student academy award winners have gotten 64 Oscar nominations, and 13 have won the Oscars in the past. Which one of these 2020 winners will get a spot in the Oscars is a question that has raised many speculations and can only be answered when the actual announcements are made.
The nominations for the 2021 Oscars will be announced on 15th March 2021.
