By SUE PASCOE
Editor
A future generation of filmmakers showed they were up to the task when their films were premiered at Paul Revere Middle School’s second annual Student Film Festival on April 27.
“The films demonstrated amazing creativity and talent,” said festival organizer Lisa Robbins. “There was a great turnout and it was a wonderful time. The show was made possible by the hard work of our contributing student filmmakers, our team of dedicated organizers, and our very generous contributors.”
More than 30 films were judged in six categories: animation, live-action short, music video, documentary, commercial and public service announcement.
Filmmakers posed for photographers on the red carpet, picked up popcorn and entered a packed auditorium before learning which films had been chosen best in each category.
Taking first in animation (featuring computer animation, Claymation, Lego and hand drawing) with Billy Stickman was the team of Jonathon Lehman and Hana and Maya 
Romanik. Second place went to Gabe Groenwold for A Little Force.
In the live-action short film, capturing first for Paranormal Activity were Zoe Emilsson, Kerry Cooper, Chelsea Trotti and Bella Dixon.
Best in music video went to the film Be Cool, Carpool by Arya Naeim, Cary and Jake Ross, Ellie Torsion, Chloe Ebrahimi and Jada Asgar.
The documentary award went to Jack Grazer, Lucas Schepps-Brown, McKenna Thompson and Arlene Cruz for Family Is Family.
Nike Basketball was the winner in the commercial category and was written and filmed by Rose Morris and Tessa Smigla.
In the PSA category there was a tie between L.A. River by Grace Smith and Ryan’s World Conservation by Ryan Ebrahimi.
This year only, filmmakers were asked to do a Paul Revere carpool PSA from 30 seconds to 90 seconds maximum in order to get the message out about traffic surrounding the school, bounded by Allenford and Sunset Boulevard. Palisadian seventh grader Tessa Smigla took first place and her video can be accessed on the Palisades News website (palisadesnews.com).
Bruce Jugan, who is involved with Sunset Corridor traffic improvement, a member of the Brentwood Homeowners Association and a member of the Revere transportation committee, was the judge for the Revere carpool PSA. Teachers John Dwight and Jon Hyman judged the other categories.
Others who made the event possible were Relativity School of Film, Media & Performing Arts, Garden Café, Bruce Jugan, Knotts Berry Farm, The Yogurt Shoppe, Pinocchio in Cucina, ArcLight Cinemas, iPic Entertainment, Sweet Rose Creamery, Robeks, Manny Arenas of CubrixPhotography.com, Jemma and David Brixton and the gang at Whitehouse Post, and PRIDE—the Paul Revere booster club.
Winners in the commercial category were (back row): (Left) Tessa Smigla and Rose Morris and (front) Zoey Morris. Photo: Manny Arenas
Jack Grazer was one of four students whose film Family is Family won first in the documentary category. He served as director/ editor/co-writer and cinematographer. Photo: Manny Arenas
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