The Student Academy Awards have announced their finalists for 2019, which include two films produced by Dodge students.

This year 1,615 films were submitted for consideration, but only 37 were named finalists, placing these films in the top two percent of submissions. In the past, four student films from Dodge College have won a Student Academy Award. This year, four Dodge films made it to the semi-final stage, and two have advanced as finalists.

The following films have made it to the final stage:

“Two Paper Nightingales”

“Two Paper Nightingales” which is directed by Kaylin George (BFA/FP ’19) is one of three finalists in the Alternative/ Experimental category. The film is a “fairy tale of two sisters torn apart by war, told from three different cultural perspectives.”

“Relentless”

“Relentless“, directed by Shelby Thompson (BFA/NWD ’19) is an undergraduate documentary thesis film. It tells the “comeback story of a young action sport athlete who seemingly lost everything after a freak accident turned him quadriplegic. This is about the relentless pursuit of self-improvement, embracement of challenges, and the journey of love, growth and acceptance.”

Congratulations to our talented student filmmakers! To track more exciting activity by Dodge students in the film festival circuit, check out Dodge College’s Film Festival Updates.

This year’s winners will be announced on October 17, 2019 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

“Two Paper Nightingales” and “Relentless” will screen at this year’s Leo Freedman Foundation First Cut on Thursday, October 17, 2019. This event is free with an RSVP.

Featured image: still from “Relentless” 

Update: 

An earlier version of this article announced three Dodge Films as 2019 Student Academy Awards finalists. Based on information received by the Student Academy Awards, two Dodge Films are finalists in this year’s competition.