St. Margaret’s Students Win High Honors at National Film Festivals

Students in St. Margaret’s cinematic arts program are being recognized across the country for their creative film projects.

Tartan films have been honored at two high-profile festivals in October, taking home awards at both the All American High School Film Festival and the National Film Festival for Talented Youth.

The film “Outside,” which was created last year by the Middle School’s introduction to film class, won Best Visual Effects at the All American High School Film Festival in October. The film is an animated adaptation of a children’s book by Deirdre Gill, and students applied many different editing skills learned throughout the semester into a 6-minute film.

“Outside” beat out several films from older students across the country. The award was announced at the 2019 Teen Indie Awards in New York City earlier this month.

At the National Film Festival for Talented Youth last weekend, Upper School students Blake Jafari, Chloe Reder, Bobby Springer, Harrison Trikas and Emma Evanson won first place in the festival’s 48-Hour Film Off competition, beating out 24 other entries. The team put together the film “Time Machine” over a weekend in early October—taking care of writing, creating a set, filming, editing and adding visual effects within a strict 48-hour deadline.

In addition, Chloe Reder’s film “The Audition” was screened at NFFTY’s Works in Progress workshop, and was discussed by a panel of film industry professionals in front of an audience of filmmakers.

“Our film students are empowered by the fact that if they can dream it, they can create it,” said film teacher Karen Bennett. “I’m so happy their hard work is being recognized among many great student films around the country.”