Finalists Announced for L.A. Student Media Festival

A total of 36 submissions from 14 schools made up the final crops of films to be considered for the third annual Los Angeles Student Media Festival as the finalists will now vie for top prizes at the only film festival solely for Los Angeles County high school students. The finalists can be seen at lasmf.lacity.org/news.

"I want to extend my congratulations and thanks to all of the extraordinary artists who submitted entries to the LASMF this year,” said Councilmember Paul Krekorian, who created the festival. “As is true every year, the films that made the final cut prove that the level of talent and creativity of Southern California's high school students is unparalleled, and I'm thrilled that our festival once again gives them a forum to fully showcase their vision. I have no doubt that among the finalists we are announcing today will be Oscar and Emmy winners of the future, so the March 30 event is a tremendous opportunity for everyone to come and see what the future of cinema holds."

Students throughout Los Angeles County – from Beverly Hills and Pasadena to Van Nuys and Glendale – made the final cut from the 175 submissions the festival received. The field was winnowed by a crop of 11 judges who independently reviewed each film. The complete list of judges, which includes Ron Osborn, a screenwriter and former West Wing writer and Alice Walton, a journalist for KPCC, is available at lasmf.lacity.org/jurypanel.

The final films will be screened during the March 30 festival at the El Portal Theatre in the NoHo Arts District, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., at 5 p.m. Free tickets will be available shortly via lasmf.lacity.org.  

The festival will offer each of its winning films a $500 scholarship sponsored by the Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Charitable Foundation. The film that is chosen for the “Best of Show” award will receive an additional $500 scholarship. Winning filmmakers will also be treated to a special lunch hosted in their honor at CBS Studio Center with Studio President Michael L. Klausman.

Winning students will also receive an official commemoration from the city of Los Angeles for their work.

-- Councilman Krekorian's office