This year, they took home gold through bronze in the Documentary and Eco-Tourism Short Film categories. First place winners were Erika Robertson (“The Beauty Bias, Documentary) and Gabriel Mazariegos (“The Lenda of Sao Francisco,” Eco-Tourism Short), second place winners were Ryan Hulsebos (“Bill Gibb NASA HUNCH,” Documentary) & Paola Apolinario (“Passaic County Promo,” Eco-Tourism Short), and third place winners were Megan Mitchell (“A Place to Call Our Own,” Documentary) and Paola Apolinario (“Silk City: Paterson’s Golden Era”, Eco-Tourism Short). Other outstanding wins include Enrique Torres (1st place: “The Sharing Network,” PSA), Gabriel Soto (1st Place: “Impact,” Short Film), Tiffany Cano (2nd place: “Just a Thought,” PSA), Suzette Ramirez (2nd place: “True Colors,” Music). Certain Video Production students were further recognized with the following outstanding distinctions: Enrique Torres, Best PSA (Denise Aronson Award, $2000 scholarship); Erika Robertson & Paola Apolinario, Rising Star Recognitions (North Jersey Federal Credit Union Award, $200).
In addition, PCTI alumna Nicole Romero took home the gold in the Independent category with her film, “Dacamented.” She also received the North Jersey Federal Credit Union Award ($1000 prize) and the Doris Aaronson Award for Best Social Documentary ($2000 prize).
At the Montclair Film Festival’s Emerging Filmmakers Competition, Erika Robertson’s “Beauty Bias” received the Partner’s for Health Speak-Out Award for Social Impact. Gabriel Soto’s received a Special Jury Prize for the Narrative Category for “Impact.” Lindsay Fiorellini & Megan Mitchell’s “A Place to Call Our Own” also tied for a Special Jury Prize in the Documentary category.
Ocean County’s Library Film Festival saw that the Best Documentary award was received by Gabriel Mazariegos for “The Lenda of Sao Francisco.”
In addition to the fantastic aforementioned wins, it was just announced that Ian Rodriguez and Brian Schmid’s submission to the national NASA HUNCH Video Challenge won the NASA Experiments award!
Congratulations to all of PCTI’s Video Production students on these phenomenal wins!
PCTI Video Production students Paola Apolinario (Passaic), Megan Mitchell (Clifton), Lindsay Fiorellini (Wayne), Suzette Ramirez (Passaic), Gabriel Soto (Passaic), Erika Robertson (Prospect Park), Enrique Torres (Clifton), Tiffany Cano (Haskell), and Gabriel Mazariegos (Hewitt) celebrate their film festival wins (not pictured: Ryan Hulsebos, North Haledon)!
PCTI Video Production students Ian Rodriguez (Paterson) and Brian Schmid (Hewitt) celebrate their NASA Hunch Video Challenge win!