The Academy Awards were Sunday, but these local students were the focus of paparazzi on the red carpet last week. Students from two DeKalb schools were the big winners at the first “DeKalb Student Film Festival” on Thursday, February 21, bringing home awards in the ““Best of Show” and “Audience Choice” categories.  The DeKalb School of the Arts was named the “Overall Winner” for their film, “Locked Out.” The DeKalb Entertainment Commission (DEC) partnered with the DeKalb County School District for this first-ever film festival highlighting student productions.
 
Students competed in three categories of films, beginner, intermediate, advanced. Film industry judges served on a panel evaluating the submissions and wards were distributed in each category for “Best of Show,” “Audience Choice” and one final “Overall Winner.” Download photos and videos here.
 
Best of Show:

Beginner — DeKalb School of the Arts, “Invisible”

Intermediate — DeKalb School of the Arts, “Blind Spot”

Advanced — DeKalb School of the Arts, “Locked Out”
 
Audience Choice:

Beginner — Lakeside High School, “Joust”

Intermediate — Lakeside High School, “Sciophobia”

Advanced — DeKalb School of the Arts, “Locked Out”
 
Overall Winner / Best of Show:

DeKalb School of the Arts, “Locked Out”
 
A total of 33  films were submitted from 13 high schools and one middle school as part of DeKalb County School District’s AV and Film Program. Participating High Schools: Arabia Mountain, Chamblee, Columbia, DeKalb High School of Technology South, DeKalb School of the Arts, Dunwoody, Lakeside, Miller Grove, McNair, Southwest DeKalb, Stephenson, Towers and Tucker. Participating Middle School: Tucker Middle.
 
“As the film industry continues to grow in Georgia, it is important for us to train the next generation of filmmakers,” said Shelbia Jackson, Director, DeKalb Entertainment Commission. “DeKalb County, through the DeKalb Entertainment Commission, has made it a priority to offer excellent audio visual programs to our middle and high school students.”
 
“This is another fantastic example of DeKalb County School District staying in step with fruitful, innovative industries in the metro Atlanta area,” said DCSD Superintendent/CEO Dr. R. Stephen Green. “The television and film industries have proven, in recent years, that they are here to stay. As a school district promising the best opportunities for our students, we are poised to offer courses in production and foster our students’ artistic talent. This was truly a great opportunity to witness our students soaring to new heights.”

The judges for the festival included: Mark Ashworth, actor; Matthew Cornwell and Eric Goins, ReImagine/ATL; Jessica Fox-Thigpen, Fox Casting; Bobby Huntley, director; Jason MacDonald, Drama Inc. acting studio; Justin O’Neal Miller, Alchemy Set, production company; Angela Ray, actress; Barry Stoltze, actor; Scott Thigpen and Maggie Mock, Crazy Legs Productions.