Aspiring youth filmmakers earn their version of Oscars gold in Ohio
CLEVELAND – Winners for the fourth "Kids Film It Festival" – the Oscars for young aspiring filmmakers – were announced Friday night at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s Foster Theater in front of a full house.
Some of the filmmakers, such as Lakewood, Ohio, native Lindsay O’Keefe, used their movies to showcase topics meaningful to them. That approach fit nicely into the festival, which was founded by 16-year-old Ryan Levine as a way to raise funds for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
O’Keefe’s “Alive Day” told the story of her friend Breanna Sprenger, a Paralympic swimmer. She’s participated in the festival since its inception.
“I just really wanted to inspire people about her story and kind of emphasize her abilities and not her disabilities,” O’Keefe said.
Sprenger considered being the subject of the film an honor.
“I mainly do what I do for children with disabilities,” said Sprenger, a freshman at the University of Akron. “I want them to know that they can do anything and they can live successful lives, even if they were born a little different.”
“Alive Day” would eventually win a Nikki Delamotte People’s Choice Award in the 15-to-18 category, an award voted on by the audience. The award is named in honor of a late Cleveland.com writer known for her appreciation of all things Cleveland.
Winners, who came from three categories across three age groups and run three to five minutes, included some from as far away as Poland and were selected by prominent producers and directors, including Anthony and Joe Russo, directors of “Avengers: Endgame”; Todd Lieberman, a producer of films such as “Beauty and the Beast”; Marc Buckland, an Emmy winner for the “My Name is Earl”; and Oscar-winning producer Dan Jinks (“American Beauty”).
The festival represents a way for Levine to give aspiring filmmakers a venue to showcase their talents and a way to raise money for Parkinson’s research. To date, the festival has given more than $200,000 to the cause.
“I just don’t love seeing her with it,” Levine said of his grandmother. “It’s not a fun disease to have. Our goal is to help find a cure. We want to raise more money, and that’s what this night is also helping.”
Award-winning films can be viewed online at kidsfilmitfestival.com.
Winners:
Ages 8-11
Animation: “Four Seasons,” directed by Piotr Kazmierczak, Sochaczew, Poland.
Short film: “The Goose Chase,” directed by Gio Gaynor/Take Two Film Academy, New York.
Ages 12-14
Animation: “Talent Trouble,” directed by Theo Hawk, Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
Music Video: “Noted,” directed by Alaina Tennant, Wadsworth, Ohio.
Short Film: “It’s Cold,” directed by Sofia Dewey, Moreland Hills, Ohio.
Ages 15-18
Animation: “Ugly,” directed by Melanie Tulagan, San Diego, California.
Music Video: “Funeral Proposals – Beach Song,” directed by Evan Lifke, Akron, Ohio.
Short Film: "Bittersweet,"; directed by Ishaan Parmar, San Francisco.
Foreign Film: “Lunch Break,” directed by Thamanna Sol, India.
Nikki Delamotte Awards
Ages 8-11: “Four Seasons,” directed by Piotr Kazmierczak, Sochaczew, Poland.
Ages 12-14: “Gravity,” directed by Sayer Backa, Annapolis, Maryland.
Ages 15-18: “Alive Day,” directed by Lindsay O’Keefe, Lakewood, Ohio.
Follow George M. Thomas on Twitter: @ByGeorgeThomas.
