Video production students win awards at Fresh Film Northwest
Lena Bowe, Staff Reporter
Originally published November 18, 2014
Lena Bowe
Students from the Digital Filmmaking Program stand outside the Portland Art Museum, where the festival was located.
Seven students from the Digital Filmmaking Program received awards on Saturday at Fresh Film Northwest, a competitive regional festival organized by the Northwest Film Center in Portland, Oregon.
The winning films were “Air Pressure,” a visual story about a disaster at the World Balloon Animal Championships by junior Leo Pfeifer, senior Coleman Andersen, and Ballard graduate Josh Vredevoogd; “Clipped Wings,” a documentary about the effects of the Boy Scout’s policies regarding gay people by Pfeifer, Andersen, and senior Duncan Gowdy; and “Raven Rock,” a documentary about a treatment program that pairs survivors of child abuse with abused horses for mutual healing by senior Rachel Cole, junior Jaya Flanary, and junior Meagen Tajalle.
The winners were chosen by the festival jury, which also gave “Clipped Wings” a Heart Award for its “authenticity, originality, and humane treatment of a subject.” The film follows the stories of two gay members of the Scouts and how the Boy Scout’s ban on gay people has impacted their lives.
This is the tenth year in a row that Ballard students have won at Fresh Film Northwest. Entries were submitted from filmmakers ages 13 to 19 in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Only 10 films total out of 80 were winners this year.
The festival jury also awarded “Audio Input,” a documentary about podcasting in Seattle, with an honorable mention. “Audio Input” was made by seniors Duncan Boszko, Jack O’Neal, Piper Phillips and Sho Schrock. Only five films received this honor.
The films have been successful outside of Fresh Film Northwest as well. “Air Pressure” has also been featured at the Chicago International Film Festival, the Seattle International Film Festival and the Northwest High School Film Festival. “Clipped Wings” has received over 100,000 views online.
The students plan on submitting their productions to more local film festivals such as NFFTY and Northwest High School Film Festival.
The documentaries featured at the festival can be viewed here.
