attends Columbia Pictures and Mercedes-Benz Present the US Red Carpet Premiere of AFTER EARTH at Ziegfeld Theatre on May 29, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)
The Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors Foundation Announces the Top Winners of the 20th Student Grant Awards by the host Alfonso Ribeiro Hollywood actor, dancer and TV presenter (America’s Funniest Home Videos, Fresh Prince of Bel Air).
The Chuck Fries 1st Place Gold Circle Award went to James Grisom of USC for his film “Eye for an i” James will receive an additional $2,500 from The Foundation and a camera package from legendary camera and equipment provider, Panavision. This support from Panavision is worth $60,000.00. Aaron Saffa of Panavision presented the award.
The award-winning film Eye for an i is a poetic and authentic meditation on grief from the perspective of a young black teen named Jeremiah. After losing his sister to a stray bullet in a gang-related shooting, societal pressures from his Compton, California neighborhood push Jeremiah to respond.
The 2nd Place Gold Circle Award went to Christina Yoon of Columbia University for her film “Motherland,” Christina will receive an additional $1,000.00 from The Foundation and an editing package from one of the premier post production facilities, illuminate Hollywood, worth $30,000.00. Jim Hardy, CEO of illuminate Hollywood presented the award.
Motherland is a dark, stylized drama about Leah, a Korean American adoptee who returns to Korea to search for her birth mother. When she is blocked by the adoption agency from getting her mother’s information, Leah goes on a solitary journey, driven by her longing to discover the truth of her origins.
The Caucus Foundation Student Grant Awards were bestowed upon six select grantees from colleges and universities across the nation who need assistance to complete their thesis student films. The recipients will receive grants totaling $100,000 in-kind services and funds.
The other winning student filmmakers chosen in 2021 by The Caucus Foundation are Michelle Falcon Fontanez-Emerson College, Chloe Herring-Columbia College Chicago, Luisa Gonzalez-University of Texas Austin and Henna Ashraf-UCLA.
Generous donations by key supporters The Annenberg Foundation, Panavision, illuminate Hollywood, and The Caucus Foundation provide the bourgeoning filmmakers invaluable support needed to complete their films and elevate their careers in filmmaking.