Aspiring filmmakers, screenwriters showcase their talents at annual Redstone Film Festival

Students and professors filled Boston University’s Tsai Performance Center to its 515-person capacity Wednesday night for the 31st annual Redstone Film Festival, the primary showcase for films produced by BU students.

The top prize of the festival went to senior film and television majors Dimitri Kouri and Zack McGeehan for their film “Salty Dogs,” the only documentary of the six finalists, as well as the only digital film featured.

McGeehan and Kouri said they were surprised but pleased by the success of “Salty Dogs.”

“I didn’t expect it at all, it’s kind of a huge surprise for these sorts of films to win,” Mcgeehan said. “It’s pretty crazy that a documentary won, but it’s great recognition and it feels really good.”

Kouri said recognition in the festival has been his motivation throughout his time in the film and television program at BU.

“I feel like it’s a goal of almost every filmmaker at BU at some point, to get a film in here,” Kouri said. “I think if any film student is at BU and doesn’t submit something, it’s just a missed opportunity.”

Second place went to Pietro Nigro’s film “Your Way Home,” while third place was awarded to David Wells for “The Life Smugglers.” The winners received cash prizes of $2000, $1000 and $500, respectively.

The Redstone Film Festival also features another competition, the Fleder-Rosenberg short screenplay contest, which also awards cash prizes to winners.

Marta Armengol Royo, a first-year screenwriting graduate student from Spain, received the top prize for her screenplay “Christmas Dinner.” Second and third places went to Eran Navor for “Guitar Hero” and Keya Vakil for “Too Cold to Cry,” respectively.

Royo said the competition is unique because of its acknowledgment of screenwriters.

“The fact that they include the Fleder-Rosenberg’s really sets the Redstones apart, because there are not that many competitions that screenwriters can enter,” she said. “It’s also very interesting to get this outlet for really high quality student films, which isn’t something you see a lot.”

Vakil, a sophomore majoring in film and television, was the youngest of the nominees. He said his win came as a surprise.

“It was a little intimidating being the youngest one, so winning was not something I was expecting,” Vakil said. “I was shocked when I got the email saying I advanced, and I was even more surprised tonight. It’s really an honor though and I’m excited. Writing is something I really enjoy, so having it validated or rewarded like this feels good.”

College of Communication Dean Tom Fiedler said the festival, which will be shown in New York and Los Angeles in March, helps to get students’ work recognized both on and off campus.

“This has a reach that goes beyond the campus,” Fiedler said. “I think what this has had the effect of doing over the years is not only introducing the work that students have done to people who may be in a position to help them go forward, but it creates excitement about the film program in places where we want that to happen.”

Fiedler said success in the Redstones can be used as a stepping stone, helping winners to both finance future projects and to put their name and work into the film community.

“It gives them, first of all, a little bit of financial help to move forward, but also a credential that they can use when they’re entering their films in other film festivals. The fact that they’ve been recognized here makes those who judge admissions to other film festivals sit up and take a little more notice.”

Fiedler also said past Redstone winners have gone on to great success in the film industry. The festival’s alumni include screenwriter Steve Brill, who wrote “The Mighty Ducks,” and Richard Gladstein, producer of “The Cider House Rules,” “Pulp Fiction” and “The Bourne Identity,” according to the COM website.