Student Programming Board Announces Winners of Eighth Annual Reelstories Film Festival

February 10, 2017

Seven feature films and one short film created by Seaver College students were recognized at the eighth annual Reelstories Film Festival (RSFF) hosted by the Pepperdine University Student Programming Board at Mullin Town Square on the Malibu campus on Friday, February 3.

“The quality of the films this year really surpassed those of previous years,” shared Justin Wirawan, Seaver College senior, cochair of the Student Programming Board’s Film and Entertainment Committee, and RSFF executive director.

“The stories and the films are really becoming standouts on their own, and it’s not just about the glamour and the glitz of the event—it’s about the stories that are being told, and I think that’s pretty important.”

The night’s top winning films were:

The Bear

Through a series of flashbacks, audiences learn the story of a homeless man and how his perfect existence was suddenly shattered after a tragic, life-altering event.

Directed by Keeyana Kian
Screenplay by Mallory Erwin
Cinematography by Alexander Bonelli
Editing by Susanne Pettersen and Irene Chun
Score by Sam Hinrichsen

Desarraigado

Filmmaker Moises Barba highlights the true story of his uncle, an undocumented citizen trapped between the American dream and his roots in Mexico.

Directed by Moises Barba
Screenplay by Moises Barba
Cinematography by Moises Barba
Editing by Moises Barba
Score by Moises Barba

Night Lights

After the death of their son, a young American couple sets off on a road trip into the Australian Outback to escape their grief.

Directed by Isabella Issa
Screenplay by Eryn Ramsey
Cinematography by April Rock
Editing by Briana Chmielewski
Score by Nyah Wilson

The Noise

A young student moves in with a new roommate. Everything seems well, until one day a mysterious noise threatens his sanity.

Directed by Peter DiGrazia and Jeffrey Lai
Screenplay by Jalene Clymore and Jeffrey Lai
Cinematography by Peter DiGrazia and Andrew Lucero
Editing by Jeffrey Lai
Score by Jeffrey Lai

Parallels

A young man from the Bronx goes into an interview, where he takes an unorthodox approach and decides to open up about his past.

Directed by Isabella Issa
Screenplay by Isabella Issa
Cinematography by Matt Benton and Jack Miller
Editing by Tori Santi
Score by Sara Kimura

Shut Down

In a hyper connected world, Andrew undertakes a journey to rediscover connection in its purest form. One day his world is shattered when he drops his phone.