By Two Cal State Long Beach students landed first place at Cal State University’s 23rd annual Media Arts Festival.
The Media Arts Festival, which was held at Cal State Fullerton earlier this month, is a CSU system-wide competition designed to help students learn how other students and professional filmmakers work, according to the festival’s website.
One of the students, senior film major Joshua Hoh, won first place in the best narrative film and audience choice categories for his short film, “Steven Spielberg and the Return to Film School.”
Hoh said he worked with more than 150 different music, theatre and art students throughout the last year to create the film, which he said took two years to write.
He said that winning the awards was very motivating for him and his team.
“I feel that this is the best writing and directing effort that I have been able to produce,” Hoh said. “Hopefully, this is just the beginning of the road that will lead to getting the film to Steven Spielberg.”
Senior narrative production major Viki Lopez also won first place in the short screenplay category for her screenplay, “Emotional Coupe.”
“[I’m] so excited,” Lopez said. “I really wasn’t expecting it. I only entered because my teacher suggested it so I figured it was worth a shot.”
Joanne Sharp, assistant director for the Media Arts Festival, said that each year about 150 to 200 entries are received, which are then read or screened by panels composed of CSU faculty members. She said the faculty members typically choose 25 to 35 finalists.
Both winners received cash prizes of $500 each and an additional $250 for the CSULB film department.
The winning students, chosen by CSU professors and industry leaders, also received a Rosebud Award, which recognizes creative and academic achievements of students in film and video programs, according to the Media Arts Festival website.
Sharp said there are seminars and events at the festival, such as an industry mixer and a keynote speaker, designed to help students make contacts and transition into their careers.
“The Medial Arts Festival allows for every student who enters to get comments from our judges, and [it also] brings recognition in the media industry to our finalists,” she said.
