Four students, one from each major region of the world, have been named first-place winners in the 2009 edition of the annual Kodak Film School Competition. The winners are: Chris Freilich from the American Film Institute in the U.S.; Hatuey Viveros from Centro de Capacitacion Cinematografica in Mexico; Andrzej Krol from the Fachhochschule Dortmund in Germany; and Liu Yizeng from Beijing Film Academy in China.
Now in its 10th year, the annual competition recognizes the creativity and talent of student cinematographers in the collaborative process of visual storytelling.
John Bailey, ASC, a world-recognized cinematographer with more than 70 credits of his own, judged the regional entries. “John’s diversity of experience and interest in nurturing the next generation of filmmakers adds immeasurably to the quality of this competition,” said Wendy Elms, Worldwide Education Segment manager for Kodak’s Entertainment Imaging Division. “All students who enter benefit from John’s insights and his understanding of the possibilities of film.”
The student filmmakers tackled a diverse range of subject matter. Freilich’s Half Kenneth tells the story of a young man and his brother who escape a war relocation camp in 1945. Viveros’ La Cancion de los Ninos Muertos recalls a summer spent amid depression and alcohol in an old hut on the beach. Birthday, from Krol, takes a father back to his son’s fifth birthday party in flashes of memory. The Accident by Yizeng tells the story of two people’s destinies who cross because of a car accident.
The winners receive a trip to the 2010 Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival in France, where they will have the opportunity to screen their film in the Kodak Short Film Showcase. The filmmakers also can participate in networking sessions and other activities which are part of the festival.
“Young filmmakers need to have their work seen by judges of the caliber of John Bailey–and by their peers,” said Elms. “By providing the opportunity for that, we hope to encourage the next generation of cinematographers to pursue their passion to tell stories on film. This is one of many ways that Kodak supports students and film schools around the world.”
The Kodak Film School Competition is open to students and recent graduates in Asia, Latin America, Canada and the U.S., as well as Europe and the Middle East. Participants must first compete at a national level. Those who move on to the finalist pool are then judged for the top four spots in this annual competition. All entries must be produced on film by a student crew.
Trump Asks Supreme Court To Delay TikTok Ban
President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a "political resolution" to the issue.
The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk.
"President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act's deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case," said Trump's amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump's choice for solicitor general.
The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table.
He has been holding meetings with foreign leaders and business officials at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida while he assembles his administration, including a meeting last week with TikTok CEO Shou Chew.
Trump has reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger... Read More