Niskayuna High School student filmmakers named finalists in the 1st annual “Peoples Pixel Project”

Three short films from the Advanced Studio in Video class at Niskayuna High School were selected (out of a total of 17) as finalists in the 1st annual “Peoples Pixel Project” sponsored by the Lake George Arts Project.

Last fall, a call for video entries 3 to 5 minutes long was placed to anyone living within 75 miles of Lake George, NY. From these entries three awards were selected for each of 6 categories. Awards will be screened on Saturday, February 6, 2010, 7 pm at Rock Hill Bakehouse Cafe, 19 Exchange Street, Glens Falls.

The three finalists from Niskayuna High School that were selected from the dozens of short films submitted from around the region are: A Work in Progress, Roberry, and Talk to the Hand.

A Work in Progress, directed by Mark Stenson, Peter Koehler, and Ryan Nerney tells the tale of two teenage boys trying to come up with an idea for their next film.  The problem is they just can’t seem to get the character “right”.  The film evolves in a creative manner all while developing a story that’s “a work in progress”.  This film opened up Niskayuna High School’s “SHORT CUTS 8” film festival last June.

The production team that created the multi-award-winning stop-action short, Tom Lamanna’s Breakfast, now gives the northern region of the state to enjoy their latest project entitled, Roberry.  Roberry tells the story of a young man robbing his neighbor’s house for ingredients for a blueberry pie and the obstacles he encounters on his quest.  The film was directed and produced by James Belcastro and Matt Cioffi.  This film won the “Best Animation” prize at the Westport Youth Film Festival last spring as well as being screened at the CineYouth Festival in Chicago.

Chris Murphy’s film – Talk to the Hand – is the third entry from the NHS Advanced Video class to be selected as a finalist in this new festival.  Talk to the Hand is a still-frame animated short which features two friends and their unusual encounter with a new kid at school.  This film received the “Best Animation” award at the prestigious CineYouth Festival that is part of the Chicago International Film Festival.  Mr. Murphy’s film also received accolades for “Best Editing” and an “Honorable Mention” in the Narrative Comedy category at last spring’s Capital Region Media Arts Festival and was included in the juried Westport Youth Film Festival.

Tickets are $10. Seating is very limited, so buy tickets early – they are going fast!  To purchase tickets call LGAP: (518) 668-2616, or Rock Hill Bakehouse: (518) 615-0777.  All entries for P3 can be viewed at the Lake George Arts Project, 1 Amherst St, Lake George, NY, where a continuous loop will be on view during gallery hours throughout the month of February.  The award finalists will also be on view in the lobby of Aimee’s Dinner Theater from February 2nd – 12th.

For more information about the festival contact:

LAKE GEORGE ARTS PROJECT
1 Amherst Street
Lake George, NY 12845
(518) 668-2616
mail@lakegeorgearts.org

2 thoughts on “Niskayuna High School student filmmakers named finalists in the 1st annual “Peoples Pixel Project””

Leave a Reply