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.
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More