ZGI Filmmaker's Documentary Selected to Screen in Flagstaff
ZGI Alumni Jamie Taucher's thesis film recently screened at the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival.
Taucher's short documentary, Sea of Change addresses the critical issues of over fishing and sheds light on the power of local action, promoting sustainability in a Mexican village.
Taucher made her mark with the film when she received the Women in Film & General Motors: Acceleration Grant for Emerging Filmmakers. She was also invited to share her film and contribute to a panel discussion sponsored by The Aspen Institute and National Geographic Magazine. There is a wealth of great information about the forum, The Future of Our Shared Environment Today, on their website, Aspen Environment Forum.
Plan to attend this semesters Workshops
ZGI Welcomes the Class of 2010!
More than 30 students have arrived to Sedona, committed to the process of attending the Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking.
Getting through the intense orientation prepares everyone for a year full of learning about filmmaking its challenges and solutions. Congratulations! Everyone looks forward to your success!
ZGI Shorts Film Festival Delivered!
ZGI Shorts Film Festival was the hot ticket Memorial Day weekend. With a sold out opening gala and more than 700 people coming through to watch the student films, Yavapai College’s Sedona Center for Arts & Technology was buzzing with excitement.
From here the filmmakers will submitted their shorts to film festivals around the world and at home, to the Sedona International Film Festival. Cheers to another successful class of filmmakers, making the community proud.
Award Winners and a few Pictures Click Here
Lullabye Hit the Film Festival Circuit!
After sweeping awards at the ZGI Shorts Film Festival last May, graduate Travis Suhr went on to submit to other film festivals. His thesis short was also an Official Selection of Big Bear Lake International Film festival and the Next Generation Film Festival in Sacramento, California were Suhr was nominated Best Director. "We had a great screening, met a ton of new contacts, and had a lot of cool reviews from the audience. It was great to be nominate."
-Travis Suhr, ZGI alumni.
He also enjoyed an invitation to screen at the Sedona International Film Festival. "Returning to Sedona to see my film screen to a packed audience at a film festival of this caliber was an honor."
Lullabye Trailer on MySpace Film
“Reality Check”- There is a lot of responsibility for existence.
Also an Official Selection at the 2009 Sedona International Film Festival, the feature length documentary explores the varied and unpredictable world of human nature. Anthropologists, authors, clergy, and the average Joe discuss their perceptions of reality. From coping to escapism, the many different ways in which people view the world can reveal not only the uniqueness of human beings as individuals but the commonalities as well.
Congratulations to cast crew and the students of the Advanced Class of 2008 that worked on the project last school year. Cheers to the Director of the film, Bryan Reinhart and Producer, Jeremy Hawkes, Micah Johnson, Special Effects and Zirque Bonner, Sound Designer- for completing the project in time for the screening.
Narrative Elements Create Imaginative Commentary
Weaving interviews with narrative elements, Reality Check provides an interesting commentary on the shifting perspective of reality over time.
Morgan Wise, Gil Berry, Kathleen Cameron, Rand Schwenke
Actors portrayed a real family in different time periods.
Stephan Schultze's indie, The Lesser Evil
The Lesser Evil was produced in 1990 and has recently been featured on the Independent Film Channel. Great film with an incredible cast! Director of ZGI, Stephan Schultze was the cinematographer on the film he co-wrote with Jeremy Levine. Produced by Dan Helberg and directed by David MacKay, the independent film was an official selection in 1998 at the Austin Film Festival, the Houston Film Festival, and the AFI Film Festival. Picked up by MGM for video distribution the film is a classic indie. This drama about the secrets of four friends will take you on a suspenseful journey through time. With a great plot and well developed characters portrayed by Colm Feore, David Paymer, Arliss Howard, and Tony Goldwyn four high school pals reunite after an accidental death that was covered-up resurfaces 30 years later. The film double-tracks their stories as it intercuts between past and present.
Independent Film Channel!
Director of Drowning River Taking the Next Step
While enjoying great success with her thesis short documentary, Drowning River, ML Lincoln immediately began developing a feature length documentary about the "Monkey Wrench Gang". She recently captured Ed Abbey at the Confluence Moab.
Learn More About Ed Abbey
ZGI alumni, Mark Patton Gets Filmmakers Pass to Tribecca
The feature film, The Objective, was an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this year. Credited as co-writter, Patton is enjoying the success and the opportunity to work on the project with the director Dan Myrick, of The Blair Witch Project.
ZGI participates in National Conoco TV Commercial
On location at the film school, Production company, Director'z, Inc. out of Dallas, Texas, chose ZGI for one of their Northern Arizona locations. The panoramic scenery and amazing facility made for a perfect location. Additionally, ZGI staff provided assistance during the shoot.
Oscar's Student Academy Awards!
ZGI alumni Toby Eck's and Alexandre Padilla's thesis short films were regional finalists considered to receive a Student Academy Award this year! Region two consists of 42 states and hundreds of films were submitted. Congratulations!
The fact that both films were winners of the ZGI Shorts Film Festival Audience Choice Award makes a statement. Sedona's audience knows exceptional value on the screen when they see it. Hmmm, future "Academy Screeners"?
One of seven finalists in the region, Toby Eck’s short documentary features an interview with Gihan Sadat, the widow of assassinated Egyptian President, Anwar el-Sadat.
Ana Mish Fahim
A bi-racial young man explores the cultural misconceptions of his Middle Eastern heritage. Filmmaker Mustafa Eck travels to Egypt in hopes of capturing the average Middle Eastern attitude toward various current events.
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Alexandre Padilla's narrative short film, "The Devil's Chair" takes a personal look at capitol punishment and brings attention to the cause and effect of abuse.
Student Academy Awards
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Congratulations Suki DeJong
All Apologies
Winner Best Documentary, Public Service:
Delray Beach Film Festival
Screening at the ZGI Shorts Film Festival
this weekend, as winner of the
Zaki Award:
Best Picture in the Documentary Category
Best Screenwriting
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Location! Location! Location!
Sedona is a great place to shoot.
Not only do the surrounding Red Rocks create an incredible backdrop to inspire filmmakers, it also has a diversity of landscapes and architecture to satisfy a a great variety of stories with in a short drive. No traffic and plenty of sunny days.
Alumni Links
Dot Reidelbach and Laurie Allen's DVD sales for their feature documentary are now available, Visit their website: Banking on Heaven
Robert Dakota is traveling the world with World Viewz
You Tube Hits!
Congratulations to Debra Katz for stepping it up and directing this fun short!
ISEE presents:
Bending Spoons
After making her feature, Peace Walker, ZGI alumni Tara Golden is discovering first hand the power of You Tube and networking on the internet.
Congratulations Tara!
See for yourself! Peace Walker
Verde Independent
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