Washington Township High School student filmmakers placed among the top entries at the sixth annual Artists Alike Student Film Festival hosted at WTHS on Feb. 6.
A panel of elite judges watched and scored more than 250 films submitted from students throughout the State of New Jersey. The school’s television production students submitted 11 entries for screening at the event. Top WTHS finishers included:
- First Place PSA: “Words Kill” – WTHS senior Jenna Epley
- First Place Animation/Stop Motion: “Trust” – WTHS junior Rebecca Gee
- Second Place PSA: “No Place for Hate” – WTHS senior Sophie Aguila
- Third Place NJ Hometown Documentary Short: “Living Life as an Artist” – WTHS senior Grace Tucci
- Second Place Comedy: “Wake Up Two” – WTHS sophomores John Franklin and Santino Imperato
All first-place winners automatically are submitted into the 18th annual Garden State Film Festival, New Jersey’s premiere independent film festival, and will be screened on March 29 at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Asbury Park, with a chance to be recognized at an international level.
Students from Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Gloucester, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties walked the red carpet into the event that highlighted the work of high school filmmakers and promoted positive and powerful messages through media and art. They submitted their entries in categories of public service announcement, narrative, comedy, movie trailer, drama, suspense, experimental and NJ hometown documentary short.
WTHS photography students Austin Ahart, Hannah Russell and Thomas Smullen served as photographers at the red carpet and award ceremonies.
“We have always had a strong passion in youth development in the arts, and we strive to collaborate in educational outreach by showcasing the talents of New Jersey student filmmakers through hosting a statewide high school film festival,” WTHS teacher of television production and Director of Operations for the Garden State Film Festival Kristen Dirato said.
“The distinct vision of the Artists Alike Film Festival was formed when I recognized the potential of our youth while working in education and wanted to develop an outlet to showcase the students’ work,” Dirato added. “The television, film and media programs throughout the high schools in New Jersey provide students with hands-on learning of production, including script writing for various audiences, video/audio editing, and live multi-camera news production. The Academy Award-style event honors and rewards students for their accomplishments, providing recognition to those who excel in each genre along with presenting additional special achievements for our youth.”
