Today, Montclair Film announced the winners of the 2017 Emerging Filmmaker Competition (EFC), a program co-presented by Partners For Health Foundation that screens work by students in grades 4-12 from the Tri-State Area and beyond. This year, over 90 films were submitted in three categories: Cinemaniacs (grades 4-6), Storytellers (grades 7-9), and Visionaries (grades 10-12). Winning films were selected by a group of educators and industry professionals, and all winning films will be screened at the Montclair Film Festival’s EFC Showcase on Saturday, April 29, at 11:00 a.m. at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ.

Montclair Film has also selected 15 students from across the area to participate in the Montclair Film Festival’s Junior Jury. The jurors will review a selection of films, meet with industry professionals to learn about the process of jury deliberation, adjudicate, and select a winning film for the festival’s Junior Jury Award, to be given on Saturday, May 6th, 2017.

The Montclair Film Festival, in conjunction with the Montclair Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC), will also be featuring two Sensory Friendly screenings for families this year. Sensory friendly screenings feature lowered sound, raised house lights, and the freedom for young people with sensory sensitivities to move, speak, and view films in a friendly, judgement-free environment. This year’s screenings will be INTO THE WHO KNOWS!, screening Sunday, April 30 at 11:00 a.m. at the Clairidge (suggested for children ages 6 and up), and SWIM TEAM on Friday, May 5 at 4:30 p.m. at the Bellevue (suggested for ages 12 and up).

The Montclair Film Festival will also feature a public art reception on Saturday, May 6 at 2:00 p.m. at the Investors Bank Film & Media Center, showcasing a collaborative student Air/Water Art Installation, co-presented by the Montclair Cooperative School that focuses on this year’s Community Climate Action Campaign. The piece, featuring thousands of re-purposed plastic bottles and mixed materials, will be on display throughout the Montclair Film Festival on the rear façade of the building, located at 505 Bloomfield Avenue. The reception is free and open to the public.

“As our Education programs continue to grow, we’re incredibly proud of these students, both as filmmakers and film lovers,” said Montclair Film Education Director Sue Hollenberg. “We remain dedicated to creating meaningful experiences for students of all ages, and the diversity and reach of these programs are a demonstration of our commitment to teaching the art of film. We congratulate all of our students on their outstanding work.”

Tickets for the 2017 Montclair Film Festival go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 7 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are available online at montclairfilmfest.org or at the festival’s new Box Office, located in the lobby of the Investors Bank Film & Media Center at 505 Bloomfield Avenue in downtown Montclair.

THE 2017 JUNIOR JURY

Abby Berberian, Bridgewater Raritan High School
Aidan Champeau, Montclair High School
David Chun, Millburn
Alison Cottingham, Montclair Kimberley Academy
Tyrell Dickerson, Academy 360
Soula Garcia, Bloomfield High School
Hank Greenberg, Montclair High School
Jackson Healey, Middletown High School South
Kianni, Keys, Newark Academy
Reymond Lamb, Montclair High School
Noah Levine, Livingston High
Daniel Mathis, Montclair High School
Gabrielle Narcisse, Kent Place School
Sophia Raines, West Orange High School
Kayleen Silva, Ridgefield Park


2017 EMERGING FILMMAKER COMPETITION WINNERS

Cinemaniacs (Grades 4-6)

Grand Prize Narrative
GREAT AUNT’S DISGUISE
Hanmer Elementary
Liv Hammer
Cora Tinker
Edie Carson

Grand Prize Comedy
HOW TO MAKE A FILM FOR DUMMIES
The Pingry School
Jordan Miller
Vared Shmuler
Jenna Hauser
Meher Khan

Storytellers (Grades 7-9)

Grand Prize Comedy & Grand Prize Narrative
SOCK MONSTER
Middletown High School South
Victoria  Pater
Courtney Voehl
Olivia Parauda
Cassidy Anontucci
Milla Shinder
Erik Pedersen

Special Jury Prize Comedy
BULLFROG
Union Catholic Regional High School
Zachary Reichgut

Grand Prize Experimental
IMPERCEPTIBLE
Montclair Kimberley Academy
Luke Gardiner

Grand Prize Documentary
PROJECT IDENTITY
South Orange Middle School
Alex Ferrandiz
Sam Cohen
Lucia Garritano
Robin Kalderen
Ray Feinleib

Visionaries

(Grades 10-12)

Grand Prize Comedy
TINY
Middletown High School South
Matt King

Special Jury Prize Comedy (tie)
THE INDUBITABLE MOLLY DAVIS
Montclair Kimberly Academy
Lily Jones

Special Jury Prize Comedy (tie)
PLANET OF THE DOGS
Montclair High School
Owen Plofker

Grand Prize Experimental
1600
Middletown High School South
Charlotte Larish
Lisa Merola
Maria Dragone
Sage Levine

Special Jury Prize Experimental
THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS
Columbia High School
Jacob Hirsch

Grand Prize Narrative
PERSONAL SPACE
Montclair High School
Lucia Ledesma
Aidan Champeau
Jake Weinberg
Lilli Herrick
Jacob Manthy
Petra Fox
Jake Diamond

Special Jury Prize Narrative (tie)
BLACK & WHITE REVENGE
Montville Township High School
David Champion
Jeff Gallup
Heather Giudice
Samantha Grossman
Alec Grossman
Jack Motherway
Paul Riccio
Veronica Tullo

Special Jury Prize Narrative (Tie)
FIND
Morristown High School
Kylee Strasser

Grand Prize Documentary & Social Impact
XENOPHOBIA
The Hudson School
Sean Riller-Miltner

Special Jury Prize Documentary
LOVE SHOULDN’T HURT
Montclair High School
Blythe Bahramipour

Special Jury Prize Social Impact
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Passaic County Technical Institute
Tiffany Cano

Special Jury Prize Social Impact
THE HURDLE
Passaic County Technical Institute
Tyrese Watkins



ABOUT MONTCLAIR FILM
Montclair Film, a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, nurtures and showcases the talents of filmmakers from around the region and world. Montclair Film unites, empowers, educates, and celebrates our region’s diverse cultural heritage and robust artistic community by presenting engaging programs and events all year long. The sixth annual Montclair Film Festival will take place from April 28 through May 7, 2017. MFF 2017 is made possible through generous support from Investors Bank; Audible; Hackensack Meridian Health; the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey; Ashenfelter, Slous, McDonough, Golia & Trevenen, LLP; Chubb; Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage; and William H. Connolly & Co., and others.  Our programs are made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism and New Jersey State Council on the Arts. For information about Montclair Film, visit www.montclairfilmfest.org