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| ZGI Shorts FIlm Festival in Sedona May 28-30 |
Academy Award Nominated Up in the Air to Screen at ZGI
Congratulations to ZGI adjunct-faculty Dan Dubiecki. As producer of Up in the Air nomination for an Oscar is a good thing! Additionally, Daniel Dubiecki, has been an Academy Award Nominated Producer of the feature films Thank you for Smoking, Juno, Jennifer’s Body and Chloe.
“I have been a fan and supporter of ZGI since I first visited when it opened ten years ago. I loved how fast the students were able to get their hands on equipment,” Dubiecki remembers, “the full immersion program reminds me of the films classes Zaki and I had together, but, it took us years to learn what these students are learning in a 9 month program."
In the News as Sedona Film School Turns 10
ZGI Shorts Film Festival, Interviewing a few ZGI Filmmakers from the Class of 2010
Kudos
Northern Arizona University sending students to Zaki Gordon Institute to complete requirements for a new Minor in Independent Filmmaking.
Arizona Daily Sun Article
Wall Street Journal wraps up article taking notice of the "respected" film school, the Zaki Gordon Institute.
Wall Street Journal
Great Film Reviews in MicroFilmmaker Magazine for ZGI Alumni!
Best of Show Short Film for November
Emily Warren's thesis film, Luck, received the best kind of film critique by MicroFilmmaker Magazine's Monika DeLeeuw-Taylor. Congratulations to the cast and crew and especially to Warren for her courageous story telling and for trusting her vision as a director. Here is the link for the full story.
Emily Warren-
"After graduating from film school I wanted to get to work. I called different production companies asking if they could use an intern and now I'm interning with Veritas Pictures. They do films, commercials, music videos, T.V, etc. I'm helping with production tasks... script breakdowns, budgets, schedules, location scouting, auditions, make-up, props, etc. I don't sleep much, but that's OK with me! Looking forward to being on the set. The DP is using film and Red One cameras. Currently, we are getting started on pre-production for a project. Learning so much and meeting a lot of people."
Best of Show for September
Kyle Gehring's thesis film, Inquisition, has been doing well on the festival circuit. It won the Star Award at the Indie Gathering, which was named one of the top 25 film festivals by Movie Maker Magazine and it was nominated for Best Student Picture at the 2009 Maverick Movie Awards. Inquisition also played to a completely sold out theater at the Tacoma Film Festival.
Inquisition received a glowing review in September's issue of MicroFilmmaker Magazine, receiving a 9.1 out of 10. Congratulation to the cast and crew and to Gehring for keeping his vision alive from the script, through the lens, to the screen. Here's the link to the review.
Kyle Gehring-
"Since Inquistion, I was hired to re-write a script and I have been approached to direct a Western. The best result of the MicroFilmmaker review was when a small studio contacted me with the proposal of turning Inquisition into a feature. "
Gehring and Warren were dedicated to supporting each others thesis films through the entire process- nice to see them both getting some recognition and work!
Latest Update
"Inquisition" received the Award of Merit from the Accolade Competition in CA, another top 25 festival.
Maverick Movie Awards, Emilee Edwards was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Inquisition" as Chief Minister Zacrietche.
Congratulations to the Class of 2010!
Getting through the first semester at ZGI is intense, full of challenges and solutions. Now scripts for their thesis films are being written and rewritten. More than 30 students are preparing to produce their thesis films over the next few months, committed to applying what they learned while attending the film school and adding their own personal flare. Everyone is looking forward to your success!
ZGI Shorts Film Festival Delivered!
ZGI Shorts Film Festival was the hot ticket Memorial Day weekend in 2009. With a sold out opening gala and more than 700 people coming through to watch the student films, Yavapai College’s Sedona Center for Arts & Technology was buzzing with excitement.
This year will be even hotter as the film school celebrates 10 years of getting it in the can! Save the date, don't miss out on one of the best film festival buzzes. The class of 2010 will premiere their thesis films to a fresh audience. We look forward to giving you all the details! From here the filmmakers will submit their shorts to film festivals around the world and at home, to the Sedona International Film Festival. Cheers to another successful class of filmmakers, making the Northern Arizona community proud.
Award Winners and a few Pictures Click Here
ZGI Filmmaker's Documentary Selected to Screen in Flagstaff
ZGI Alumni Jamie Taucher's thesis film recently screened at the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival.
Taucher's short documentary, Sea of Change addresses the critical issues of over fishing and sheds light on the power of local action, promoting sustainability in a Mexican village.
Taucher made her mark with the film when she received the Women in Film & General Motors: Acceleration Grant for Emerging Filmmakers. She was also invited to share her film and contribute to a panel discussion sponsored by The Aspen Institute and National Geographic Magazine. There is a wealth of great information about the forum, The Future of Our Shared Environment Today, on their website, Aspen Environment Forum.
Lullabye Hit the Film Festival Circuit!
After sweeping awards at the ZGI Shorts Film Festival last May, graduate Travis Suhr went on to submit to other film festivals. His thesis short was also an Official Selection of Big Bear Lake International Film festival and the Next Generation Film Festival in Sacramento, California were Suhr was nominated Best Director. "We had a great screening, met a ton of new contacts, and had a lot of cool reviews from the audience. It was great to be nominate."
-Travis Suhr, ZGI alumni.
He also enjoyed an invitation to screen at the Sedona International Film Festival. "Returning to Sedona to see my film screen to a packed audience at a film festival of this caliber was an honor."
“Reality Check”- There is a lot of responsibility for existence.
Also an Official Selection at the 2009 Sedona International Film Festival, the feature length documentary explores the varied and unpredictable world of human nature. Anthropologists, authors, clergy, and the average Joe discuss their perceptions of reality. From coping to escapism, the many different ways in which people view the world can reveal not only the uniqueness of human beings as individuals but the commonalities as well.
Congratulations to cast crew and the students of the Advanced Class of 2008 that worked on the project. Cheers to the Director of the film, Bryan Reinhart and Producer, Jeremy Hawkes, Micah Johnson, Special Effects and Zirque Bonner, Sound Designer- for completing the project in time for the screening.
Narrative Elements Create Imaginative Commentary
Weaving interviews with narrative elements, Reality Check provides an interesting commentary on the shifting perspective of reality over time.
Morgan Wise, Gil Berry, Kathleen Cameron, Rand Schwenke
Actors portrayed a real family in different time periods.
Director of Drowning River Taking the Next Step
While enjoying great success with her thesis short documentary, Drowning River, ML Lincoln immediately began developing a feature length documentary about the "Monkey Wrench Gang". She recently captured Ed Abbey at the Confluence Moab.
Learn More About Ed Abbey
ZGI alumni, Mark Patton Gets Filmmakers Pass to Tribecca
The feature film, The Objective, was an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this year. Credited as co-writter, Patton is enjoying the success and the opportunity to work on the project with the director Dan Myrick, of The Blair Witch Project.
ZGI participates in National Conoco TV Commercial
On location at the film school, Production company, Director'z, Inc. out of Dallas, Texas, chose ZGI for one of their Northern Arizona locations. The panoramic scenery and amazing facility made for a perfect location. Additionally, ZGI staff provided assistance during the shoot.
Oscar's Student Academy Awards!
ZGI alumni Toby Eck's and Alexandre Padilla's thesis short films were regional finalists considered to receive a Student Academy Award this year! Region two consists of 42 states and hundreds of films were submitted. Congratulations!
The fact that both films were winners of the ZGI Shorts Film Festival Audience Choice Award makes a statement. Sedona's audience knows exceptional value on the screen when they see it. Hmmm, future "Academy Screeners"?
One of seven finalists in the region, Toby Eck’s short documentary features an interview with Gihan Sadat, the widow of assassinated Egyptian President, Anwar el-Sadat.
Ana Mish Fahim
A bi-racial young man explores the cultural misconceptions of his Middle Eastern heritage. Filmmaker Mustafa Eck travels to Egypt in hopes of capturing the average Middle Eastern attitude toward various current events.
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Alexandre Padilla's narrative short film, "The Devil's Chair" takes a personal look at capitol punishment and brings attention to the cause and effect of abuse.
Student Academy Awards
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Congratulations Suki DeJong
All Apologies
Winner Best Documentary, Public Service:
Delray Beach Film Festival
Screening at the ZGI Shorts Film Festival
this weekend, as winner of the
Zaki Award:
Best Picture in the Documentary Category
Best Screenwriting
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Location! Location! Location!
Sedona is a great place to shoot.
Not only do the surrounding Red Rocks create an incredible backdrop to inspire filmmakers, it also has a diversity of landscapes and architecture to satisfy a a great variety of stories with in a short drive. No traffic and plenty of sunny days.
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