Montclair Film Festival Announces 'Kidz Shortz' Winners

Future filmmakers are getting their start here in Montclair. 

The Montclair Film Festival has announced the winners of its second Kidz Shortz filmmaking competition. This year, there were 111 registrants from 17 towns in New Jersey, 23 states and three countries.  

The winners are named below.

Chairwoman for Kidz Shortz Beth Hart said technology has opened the door for young film enthusiasts to experiment and tell their stories.  

"These kids in this generation are born with a camera in their hands," said Hart, "and they are used to seeing stories visually, and telling stories visually." 

Hart said she was impressed with the scope and approach of many of the submissions. For example some used their iPhones, others used stop motion technique. 

Most of the films had a sense of humor, added Hart, and she noticed that many of the high school students' films included a chase scene through their schools.

An awards ceremony will recognize the young filmmakers on Thursday, March 7, at 7 p.m. at The Clubhouse, at 131 Glenridge Ave.

For the second year in a row, the ceremony will be hosted by actor Roscoe Orman, best known for playing Gordon on "Sesame Street."

Winners will receive free digital filmmaking classes at the Montclair Art Museum and their films will screen during the Montclair Film Festival, running between April 29 and May 5.

Become a member of The Montclair Film Festival at http://www.montclairfilmfest.org. For more information, call (973) 783-6433.

KIDZ SHORTS 2013 WINNERS

Solo Projects: Grades 4-6 

Grand Prize: "A Trip to the Movies" by Lily Jones, of Montclair  

2nd Place: "Untitled" by Evan Kurtz 

Solo Project: Grades 7-9

Grand Prize: "Untitled" by Grace Henderson, of Montclair

2nd Place: "Untitled" by Kaylyn Jaeger, of Linden

Class Project: Grades 7-9

Grand Prize: "Untitled" by Devon D’Andrea, Alex Cahanap, Maherlyn Morency, Riley Levin and Alea Krouse, of Williamstown

2nd Place: "Don’t Start" by Kayla Phillips Mount Hebron, Montclair, NJ 

Solo Project: Grades 10-12

Grand Prize: "Painted Love" by John General, of Washington

2nd Place: "Untitled" by Ryan Callahan, of Washington 

and

"No Regrets" by Alfie Barker Leeds, of West Yorkshire, England  

Class Project: Grades 10-12

Grand Prize: "Fatman" by Tom Fama, Ryan Mulvihill and Adam Cole, of Washington 

2nd Place: "Doppelganger" by Tom Kaspereen, James Freeman, Will Monahan and Kevin Kapral, of Washington

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Original Score: "Somewhere in the Nation" by Jeremy Stepansky and Maya Stepansky, of Montclair 

Special Effects: "The Fight" by William Sokoloski, of Maplewood