Hayground School Films Honored at 2018 Guild Hall Student Film Competition

Hayground School Films Honored at 2018 Guild Hall Student Film Competition BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY. On March 29 at 6:00 pm, the winning films of Guild Hall's Annual Student Film Competition were screened at the theater. The Awards Ceremony once again included several student films emerging from Hayground School's Young Filmmakers program taught by Liz Bertsch and Mbachi Kumwenda.

In the first through fourth grade category, "Ghost Haunting" by Ryder Patrowicz nabbed first place. Also taking first place in the fifth through eighth grade category was "Dropped" by Phoenix Bliss, Dash Breen, and Leonardo Dougherty. "Braille" by Hayground's Charlie Troy and Owen Wood placed third in the same division. According to Jennifer Brondo, the general manager of Guild Hall's John Drew Theater, 54 films were submitted this year by students enrolled in schools across the South Fork as well as several who are home-schooled. Five judges then viewed all the films and selected the top three in each age group.

In the first through fourth grade category, "Ghost Haunting" by Ryder Patrowicz nabbed first place. Also taking first place in the fifth through eighth grade category was "Dropped" by Phoenix Bliss, Dash Breen, and Leonardo Dougherty. "Braille" by Hayground's Charlie Troy and Owen Wood placed third in the same division. According to Jennifer Brondo, the general manager of Guild Hall's John Drew Theater, 54 films were submitted this year by students enrolled in schools across the South Fork as well as several who are home-schooled. Five judges then viewed all the films and selected the top three in each age group.

Hayground teacher and program creator Liz Bertsch notes, "Hayground filmmakers often express the importance of making films that appeal to their target audience - kids just like themselves.  Each year they look forward to Guild Hall's Student Film Competition because it provides an opportunity for East End young filmmakers, from a variety of schools, to come together to celebrate and learn from the work of one another. "

Launched as a way of exploring storytelling through a visual medium, Hayground's Young Filmmakers program has expanded into a full-blown intensive in the art and craft of making films. Students begin the year meeting with local filmmakers, studying short independent films and exploring a wide variety of film techniques. Working in teams, they then storyboard, write, produce, direct and animate their own original short films. The year-long program culminates in Hayground Movie Night, where the young filmmakers gather to share and celebrate their work in a public viewing at Haygound School.

For more information, please contact Marcelle Langendal at 631-537-7068 or mlangendal@hayground.org. #fineartmagazine