The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has honoured a new generation of filmmakers at the 53rd Student Academy Awards, with this year’s ceremony taking place at the Toronto International Film Festival for the first time.
The ceremony was held on September 14 at TIFF Lightbox in Toronto in partnership with Rolex. The competition attracted 2,972 entries from 894 colleges and universities around the world.
The Student Academy Awards, established in 1972, recognise student filmmakers across four categories: animation, documentary, narrative and alternative/experimental filmmaking. The programme is designed to give emerging filmmakers opportunities to showcase their work and build connections within the industry.
This year’s Gold winners included Lei He of Duke University for the alternative/experimental film Drifting; Jonathan Lally, Elio Molinaro and Nicolás Acevedo Ferraté of ESMA in France for the animated film COWS; Lara Dihmis of New York University for the documentary The Last People of Petra; and Stanzin Jigmet of ESCAC in Spain for the narrative film The Dragon Letter.
Silver and Bronze awards were also presented to students from institutions across Europe, North America and Asia, highlighting the international scope of the competition.
All of this year’s winning films are now eligible to compete for the 99th Oscars in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Film categories.
Past Student Academy Award recipients include filmmakers such as Spike Lee, Robert Zemeckis and Pete Docter. According to the Academy, former winners have gone on to receive 70 Oscar nominations and win or share 15 Academy Awards.
The programme also provides winners with educational sessions, networking opportunities, mentorship and access to Academy members as they begin their professional careers.
