Student filmmakers take home Best Drama

Christine McManigal, Staff Reporter
Originally published November 25, 2015

Four students from the Digital Filmmaking Program submitted a total of three films to the All American High School Film Festival (AASFF). Of the three films, “Stolen,” a film by Coleman Andersen (BHS ‘15) and senior Leo Pfeifer won Best Drama.

On Oct. 11 Pfeifer travelled to New York where he was presented with the award at the 2015 Teen Indie Awards for his success at the AASFF. The event was held in Manhattan’s historic Kings Theater. Pfeifer attended the ceremony alone.

“Stolen” follows the life of an old man who is seeking revenge after a tragic loss. The film focuses on questioning oneself. Will I go too far? What will happen if I go through with this? What do I gain if I do nothing?

“The thing I’m most proud of is the open ending of the film and the questions it asks. They’re questions that will make the audience think. I think we did a great job of not telling the audience what to think and letting them draw their own conclusions,” Pfeifer said. “The audience can think about the moral choices of the characters and think about who the characters really are rather than us telling them. I think one of the worst things is telling the audience what to think.”

This is the first year that Pfeifer has submitted films to AASFF. Along with “Stolen” Pfeifer submitted two other films, “Clipped Wings” and “Air Pressure.” “Clipped Wings”—also by Andersen and Pfeifer alongside Duncan Gowdy (BHS ‘15)—was a finalist for Best Directing, Best Documentary and Best Overall Film.

“Stolen” was a finalist for Best Screenplay and Best Overall Film and also won Best Drama. “Air Pressure,” by Pfeifer, Andersen and Josh Vredevoogd (BHS ‘15) was an Official Selection for the festival.