Maura N.
The Last Black Unicorn
The Annual Summer Shorts Video Contest 2023, hosted by Student Filmmakers Magazine, has wrapped up. Over the past few months, filmmakers from all backgrounds, whether students, indie creators, or industry professionals, showcased their storytelling through captivating short films, videos, and animations. With a panel of esteemed judges and an array of exciting prizes on the line, the competition was fierce, and the anticipation was high.
This being said, we’re thrilled to unveil the contest’s winners and the fantastic prizes they’ve earned.
Michael Goi, ASC, ISC: An industry legend with over 75 narrative credits, four Emmy nominations, and four ASC Award Nominations. Michael Goi’s work has graced both the big and small screens, with notable projects like the pilot of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” for Netflix and episodes of “American Horror Story.” He’s a three-time past president of the American Society of Cinematographers and has directed and photographed acclaimed films. Michael’s work has won awards at the Portland Festival of World Cinema (Best Cinematography), Toronto After Dark Film Festival (Best Cinematography), and Fright Meter Awards (Best Cinematography). Michael has also written educational articles on directing for film and television in Student Filmmakers Magazine.
Mark Irwin, CSC/ASC: A legendary cinematographer whose career spans decades and continents. After collaborating with David Cronenberg on classics like “The Fly” and “Scanners,” Mark Irwin continued to light up Hollywood with his talent and adaptability. Mark’s work has won four awards from the Canadian Society of Cinematographers for Best Cinematography. His filmography includes “RoboCop 2,” “Scream,” “Old School,” and “There’s Something About Mary,” collaborating with acclaimed directors like Gil Cates, Wes Craven, Todd Phillips, and the Farrelley Brothers.
Amy DeLouise: Founder of #GALSNGEAR, Amy DeLouise is a storytelling wizard who helps clients weave compelling narratives across multimedia platforms. Her experience spans Fortune 500 companies, international nonprofits, and the public sector, making her a sought-after authority on branding and cause marketing. An experienced director/producer, Amy has won more than 40 top national awards for creative excellence in video and multimedia production including the CINE Golden Eagle, New York Festivals and Telly Awards. Amy has also written educational articles that cover topics related to film, video, broadcast workflows, and business networking in Student Filmmakers Magazine.
Shane Stanley: A multi-Emmy® Award-winning filmmaker and bestselling author, Shane Stanley’s journey from child actor to producing and directing hit films like “Gridiron Gang” with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is nothing short of extraordinary. In addition to his Emmy® Awards, Stanley has received 11 Telly Awards, 2 CINE Golden Eagles Awards, 5 Aurora Awards, 4 WorldFest Remi Awards, and 28 International Film Festival Awards. Shane is currently in post-production on “Six Days in Evergreen,” a music-drama with a star-studded cast and is prepping to direct a psychological thriller for legendary producer, Mario Kassar (“Terminator,” “Rambo, “Total Recall,” “Basic Instinct”) slated to start filming next year. Shane’s book, “What You Don’t Learn in Film School,” a best-seller earning a 4.5-star rating across the board was listed by CNN, FORBES, and BOOK AUTHORITY among the Best Filmmaking Books of All-Time, which covers independent filmmaking from concept to delivery. Shane has also written educational articles with focus topics within the areas of independent film directing, producing, and distribution in Student Filmmakers Magazine.
Bart Weiss: An award-winning independent film and video producer, director, editor, and educator. Bart Weiss has left an indelible mark on the industry and served on various boards, including the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers and the University Film and Video Association. Bart has been a video columnist for The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Times Herald, United Features Syndicate and KERA 90.1 FM Radio in Dallas. Bart has also written educational articles focusing on post-production techniques, submitting to film festivals, and technology workflows in Student Filmmakers Magazine.
Without further ado, let’s unveil the talented winners of the Annual Summer Shorts Video Contest 2023 and the outstanding prizes they’ve earned:
Prize:
The top contender will have the privilege of choosing one lens from either the remarkable Rokinon Cine DSX Lens Family or one lens from the advanced Rokinon Cine AF Lens Family. These top-of-the-line lenses will take your cinematography to new heights and empower you to capture cinematic moments with exceptional clarity.
The Smart Z-Finder by Zacuto ($299.00 Value) sponsored by Zacuto
DXA-MAX ($229 value) sponsored by Beachtek
An editorial featured in Student Filmmakers Magazine
You will be featured on StudentFilmmakers.com
$150 Cash Prize
Lifetime Subscription to Student Filmmakers Magazine
Certificate of Achievement
Prize:
DXA-MICRO PRO+ ($189 value) sponsored by Beachtek
An editorial featured in Student Filmmakers Magazine
You will be featured on StudentFilmmakers.com
$100 Cash Prize
Lifetime Subscription to Student Filmmakers Magazine
Certificate of Achievement
Prize:
DXA-MICRO PRO ($149 value) sponsored by Beachtek
An editorial featured in Student Filmmakers Magazine
You will be featured on StudentFilmmakers.com
$50 Cash Prize
Lifetime Subscription to Student Filmmakers Magazine
Certificate of Achievement
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our generous sponsors Rokinon, Zacuto and Beachtek, who made the Summer Shorts Video Contest 2023 an incredible success. Your support and contributions have enabled us to recognize and reward the exceptional talents of filmmakers from all around the world.
The Annual Summer Shorts Video Contest 2023 showcased the creative brilliance of filmmakers from around the world. It provided a platform for emerging talents to shine, and the contributions of the esteemed panel of judges elevated the contest to new heights.
As the winners revel in their well-deserved prizes, we can’t help but look forward to the next edition of the contest, where more stories will be told, and more filmmakers will have the opportunity to make their mark in the world of cinema.
Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to the judges for their invaluable contributions to this cinematic celebration!
This being said, we’re thrilled to unveil the contest’s winners and the fantastic prizes they’ve earned.
Meet the Judges:
Before we dive into the exciting results, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the remarkable panel of judges who lent their expertise to the Annual Summer Shorts Contest 2023:Michael Goi, ASC, ISC: An industry legend with over 75 narrative credits, four Emmy nominations, and four ASC Award Nominations. Michael Goi’s work has graced both the big and small screens, with notable projects like the pilot of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” for Netflix and episodes of “American Horror Story.” He’s a three-time past president of the American Society of Cinematographers and has directed and photographed acclaimed films. Michael’s work has won awards at the Portland Festival of World Cinema (Best Cinematography), Toronto After Dark Film Festival (Best Cinematography), and Fright Meter Awards (Best Cinematography). Michael has also written educational articles on directing for film and television in Student Filmmakers Magazine.
Mark Irwin, CSC/ASC: A legendary cinematographer whose career spans decades and continents. After collaborating with David Cronenberg on classics like “The Fly” and “Scanners,” Mark Irwin continued to light up Hollywood with his talent and adaptability. Mark’s work has won four awards from the Canadian Society of Cinematographers for Best Cinematography. His filmography includes “RoboCop 2,” “Scream,” “Old School,” and “There’s Something About Mary,” collaborating with acclaimed directors like Gil Cates, Wes Craven, Todd Phillips, and the Farrelley Brothers.
Amy DeLouise: Founder of #GALSNGEAR, Amy DeLouise is a storytelling wizard who helps clients weave compelling narratives across multimedia platforms. Her experience spans Fortune 500 companies, international nonprofits, and the public sector, making her a sought-after authority on branding and cause marketing. An experienced director/producer, Amy has won more than 40 top national awards for creative excellence in video and multimedia production including the CINE Golden Eagle, New York Festivals and Telly Awards. Amy has also written educational articles that cover topics related to film, video, broadcast workflows, and business networking in Student Filmmakers Magazine.
Shane Stanley: A multi-Emmy® Award-winning filmmaker and bestselling author, Shane Stanley’s journey from child actor to producing and directing hit films like “Gridiron Gang” with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is nothing short of extraordinary. In addition to his Emmy® Awards, Stanley has received 11 Telly Awards, 2 CINE Golden Eagles Awards, 5 Aurora Awards, 4 WorldFest Remi Awards, and 28 International Film Festival Awards. Shane is currently in post-production on “Six Days in Evergreen,” a music-drama with a star-studded cast and is prepping to direct a psychological thriller for legendary producer, Mario Kassar (“Terminator,” “Rambo, “Total Recall,” “Basic Instinct”) slated to start filming next year. Shane’s book, “What You Don’t Learn in Film School,” a best-seller earning a 4.5-star rating across the board was listed by CNN, FORBES, and BOOK AUTHORITY among the Best Filmmaking Books of All-Time, which covers independent filmmaking from concept to delivery. Shane has also written educational articles with focus topics within the areas of independent film directing, producing, and distribution in Student Filmmakers Magazine.
Bart Weiss: An award-winning independent film and video producer, director, editor, and educator. Bart Weiss has left an indelible mark on the industry and served on various boards, including the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers and the University Film and Video Association. Bart has been a video columnist for The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Times Herald, United Features Syndicate and KERA 90.1 FM Radio in Dallas. Bart has also written educational articles focusing on post-production techniques, submitting to film festivals, and technology workflows in Student Filmmakers Magazine.
Without further ado, let’s unveil the talented winners of the Annual Summer Shorts Video Contest 2023 and the outstanding prizes they’ve earned:
1st Prize Winner
Film: “TULIP/ROCK” by Nikhil Kamkolkar
https://www.summershortscontest.com/videos/79/68/tulip-rock-a-short-film-by-nikhil-kamkolkarPrize:
The top contender will have the privilege of choosing one lens from either the remarkable Rokinon Cine DSX Lens Family or one lens from the advanced Rokinon Cine AF Lens Family. These top-of-the-line lenses will take your cinematography to new heights and empower you to capture cinematic moments with exceptional clarity.
The Smart Z-Finder by Zacuto ($299.00 Value) sponsored by Zacuto
DXA-MAX ($229 value) sponsored by Beachtek
An editorial featured in Student Filmmakers Magazine
You will be featured on StudentFilmmakers.com
$150 Cash Prize
Lifetime Subscription to Student Filmmakers Magazine
Certificate of Achievement
2nd Prize Winner
Film: “A Little Bit Yours” by The Space TV Team
https://www.summershortscontest.com/videos/72/63/a-little-bit-yoursPrize:
DXA-MICRO PRO+ ($189 value) sponsored by Beachtek
An editorial featured in Student Filmmakers Magazine
You will be featured on StudentFilmmakers.com
$100 Cash Prize
Lifetime Subscription to Student Filmmakers Magazine
Certificate of Achievement
3rd Prize Winner
Film: “Hope – Cinematic Short Film (Sirui Nightwalker, Sony FX30)” by Ferdinand Schnabl
https://www.summershortscontest.com/videos/40/29/hope-cinematic-short-film-sirui-nightwalker-sony-fx30Prize:
DXA-MICRO PRO ($149 value) sponsored by Beachtek
An editorial featured in Student Filmmakers Magazine
You will be featured on StudentFilmmakers.com
$50 Cash Prize
Lifetime Subscription to Student Filmmakers Magazine
Certificate of Achievement
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our generous sponsors Rokinon, Zacuto and Beachtek, who made the Summer Shorts Video Contest 2023 an incredible success. Your support and contributions have enabled us to recognize and reward the exceptional talents of filmmakers from all around the world.
The Annual Summer Shorts Video Contest 2023 showcased the creative brilliance of filmmakers from around the world. It provided a platform for emerging talents to shine, and the contributions of the esteemed panel of judges elevated the contest to new heights.
As the winners revel in their well-deserved prizes, we can’t help but look forward to the next edition of the contest, where more stories will be told, and more filmmakers will have the opportunity to make their mark in the world of cinema.
Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to the judges for their invaluable contributions to this cinematic celebration!
