MCVTS film fest streams on YouTube as students win multiple honors

MCVTS film fest streams on YouTube as students win multiple honors

The seventh Reel Film Festival, featuring 42 short films by students in the digital film program of the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools’ School of the Arts, is now available to stream on YouTube.

Films in the narrative, documentary, experimental and animation categories are streaming at https://youtu.be/i3EOYKklCzU. The festival debuted outdoors on the MCVTS East Brunswick Campus on May 14 and 15, with more than 200 people in attendance. Special video appearances included a greeting from actor Malcolm McDowell, a hip hop performance by Doug E. Fresh, and messages from rock band Korn and actor Ray Porter of “Zack Snyder’s Justice League.”

Meanwhile, MCVTS digital film students once again have achieved success at multiple film festivals.

“I am so proud of these students -- going beyond the call this year, even with everything going on in the world, with also only being here 50 percent of the time for in-person instruction,” film teacher Louis Libitz said. “These students accepted the challenge, never gave up, and continued their achievements with dedication and passion to their craft to keep telling their stories and never stop creating.

“I am in awe of these New Jersey student filmmakers and proud to be their instructor.”

At the 25th Derek Freese Youth Media Film Festival, sponsored by Temple University’s Department of Film and Media Arts, “A Drive through Brooklyn” by Caitlyn Bieri, a junior from Old Bridge, was Best Documentary; “Growing Pains” by Jennifer Ruiz-Gonzalez, senior from New Brunswick, was Best Experimental Film, and also chosen as official selections were “Aqua Pura” by Alexandra Mars, a junior from North Brunswick, and “Norepinephrine” by Maya Zeidman, a sophomore from South Brunswick.

At the 19th Garden State Film Festival, “Growing Pains” by Jennifer Ruiz-Gonzalez was Best Narrative Short; “Flower Power” by Marlayna O’Brien, a junior from Edison, Henry Ruiz, a senior from New Brunswick, Jennifer Ruiz-Gonzalez, and Sammy Horan, a junior from Milltown, was second runner-up in the New Jersey Hometown Documentary Short category; other selections were “Binded” by Marlayna O’Brien, and “Norepinephrine” and “Caller Unavailable” by Maya Zeidman.

At the Count Basie Center Teen and College Film Fest, Gabriel Werts, a sophomore from South Amboy, won best acting performance, “Growing Pains” by Jennifer Ruiz-Gonzalez won best narrative, and “A Drive through Brooklyn” by Caitlyn Bieri was also an official selection.

At the 10th Archer Film Festival in Los Angeles, “Growing Pains” by Jennifer Ruiz-Gonzalez was an official selection.

At the 13th Kent Place Film Festival in Summit, “Only a Fool” by Gabriel Werts, a sophomore from South Amboy, “Growing Pains by Jennifer Ruiz-Gonzalez, and “Flower Power” by Marlayna O’Brien, Henry Ruiz, Jennifer Ruiz-Gonzalez, and Sammy Horan were official selections.

At the Hang on to Your Shorts! Film Festival in Asbury Park, “Binded” by Marlayna O’Brien won best experimental film; “Only a Fool” by Gabriel Werts won Best Director; “Growing Pains by Jennifer Ruiz-Gonzalez won Best Editing; and “A Drive through Brooklyn” by Caitlyn Bieri, “Donut Detective” by Henry Ruiz, “Flower Power” by Marlayna O’Brien, Henry Ruiz, Jennifer Ruiz-Gonzalez, and Sammy Horan, “Norepinephrine” by Maya Zeidman, “Human Error” and “Aqua Pura” by Alexandra Mars, and “Racing Blocks” by Aldan Ortiz, a junior from Perth Amboy, were official selections.

At the May 23 Film Now Festival in Ambler, Pa., among the top three experimental films will be “Growing Pains” by Jennifer Ruiz-Gonzalez and “Norepinephrine” by Maya Zeidman; among the top three animated film was “Racing Blocks” by Aldan Ortiz.

At the June 3-6 Lighthouse International Film Festival in Ship Bottom, official selections will include: “Binded” by Marlayna O'Brien, “Only A Fool” by Gabriel Werts, “A Drive Through Brooklyn” by Caitlin Bieri, “Aqua Pura” by Alexandra Mars, “Donut Detective” by Henry Ruiz, “Racing Blocks” by Aldan Ortiz, “Norepinephrine” by Maya Zeidman, and “Human Error” by Alexandra Mars.

At the June 5-6 Montclair Film Festival’s Emerging Filmmaker Competition, the Grand Prize in experimental films was shared by “Growing Pains” by Jennifer Ruiz-Gonzalez, while a special jury prize in experimental films was won by “Norepinephrine” by Maya Zeidman.

At the Film Now Festival at the Ambler Theater in Pennsylvania, “Growing Pains by Jennifer Ruiz-Gonzalez won first place in the experimental category and won a Jury Prize, “Racing Blocks” by Aldan Ortiz took third place in animation, and “Norepinephrine” by Maya Zeidman won third place in experimental.

 All of the selected screenings and awards by MCVTS student are posted at

http://www.digitalfilmmcvts.com/selected-screenings...