Wolfson CinemaSlam Competition
The purpose of CinemaSlam is to foster excellence in student filmmaking, encourage the utilization of archival footage* in visual storytelling, and expose students to the value of film festivals in connecting their work with public audiences and industry professionals.
*Archival footage is pre-existing historical content that is incorporated into a new production of any genre for the purpose of enhancing story, theme and/or style. Archival footage differs from “stock footage” in that archival footage illuminates a historical context, whereas stock footage is created for the commercial purpose of replacing the need for original footage that is called for by a script.
Due to COVID-19 and our concern for the safety of all participants, the Wolfson CinemaSlam Competition will not be taking place at the 2021 edition of Miami Film Festival. We very much hope, and expect, to bring the competition back in 2022.
LYNN AND LOUIS II WOLFSON FAMILY FOUNDATION CINEMASLAM COMPETITION 2020
$7,500 Grand Prize Award: Bruklyn Miller’s “Celestial” (New York Film Academy, Miami Beach)
$5,000 Runner Ups: “Caretaker” (University of Miami, dir. Sam Wilder); “Dessert” (New World School of the Arts, dir. Megan Tran); “Metanoia” (dir. Ashley De Grandy); “Wade in the Water: Drowning in Racism” (University of Miami, dir. Cathleen Dean)
FILM FLORIDA’S $500 SARA FULLER SCHOLARSHIP
“Metanoia” (Miami Dade College, dir. Ashley De Grandy)
CINEMASLAM AUDIENCE AWARD
“Metanoia” (Miami Dade College, dir. Ashley De Grandy)
WIP (WORKS IN PROGRESS) GRANTS
Wolfson CinemaSlam Works-In-Progress Grants for Films That Will Contain Archival Footage from Wolfson Archives
“Blue and White Right To Flight” (Miami Dade College, dir. Daniel Castro)
“Alone.” (New York Film Academy, dir. Marcela Lugo)
“The Fountain” (New York Film Academy, dir. Steve Wieclaw)
“My Dead Cat Iggy” (New York Film Academy, dir. Annabel Inman)
“Airshows in Florida” (University of Tampa, dir. Steven Nye)
“Sambo” (New York Film Academy, dir. Bruklyn Miller)
“Carnism” (Miami Dade College, dir. Luis Caminero)
“Slapper the Cat: A Musical Cartoon” (University of Central Florida, dir. Danny McCabe)
2019
BEST USE OF ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE FROM WOLFSON ARCHIVES
$5,000 cash prize: Xiao Che’s “Happy to Be Happy
WOLFSON CINEMASLAM CHAMPION
$500 cash Sara Fuller Scholarship from FilmFlorida: Alejandro Gonzalez Valdés’ “Chess”
WOLFSON CINEMASLAM BEST DIRECTOR
Andrew García’s “The Skin of Yesterday”
WOLFSON CINEMASLAM BEST WRITING
Alejandro Gonzalez Valdés’ “Chess”
WOLFSON CINEMASLAM BEST ACTOR
Andrés Nicolás Chavez, “The Skin of Yesterday”
WOLFSON CINEMASLAM BEST ACTRESS
Paulina Gálvez, “Escapé”
WOLFSON CINEMASLAM BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Chantal Gabriel’s “The Chase”
2018
CINEMASLAM CHAMPION –RENE DE DIOS AND THE SOUTH BEACH SHARK CLUB (Miami Dade College)
JURY: Omilani Alarcón, Michael Arcos, Jessica Kavana Dornbusch
Best Narrative Film: P.R.A. NATION – Jorge L. Martinez F. (University of Miami)
Best Director: Robert Ramos – RENE DE DIOS AND THE SOUTH BEACH SHARK CLUB (Miami Dade College)
Best Writing: Robert Ramos – RENE DE DIOS AND THE SOUTH BEACH SHARK CLUB (Miami Dade College)
Best Actor: Jaydev Hemrajani – ZINDAGI (University of Miami)
Best Actress: Samantha Miller – CHERRY (University of Miami)
Best Technical Achievement: RENE DE DIOS AND THE SOUTH BEACH SHARK CLUB (Miami Dade College)
CinemaSlam Audience Award – Opposite Sex by Lidia Rosa Hernandez from Center of Cinematography, Arts, and Television
2017
“Ballet Bus” by Isaac Mead-Long from University of Miami
Best Actor – George Smith III, for “Paradise”, Andrea Garcia Marquez, from University of Miami
Best Actress – Amy Hoerler, for “Kuru”, by Jonathan Cuartas, from Miami Dade College
Best Technical Achievement – “ Paradise” by Andrea Garcia Marquez from University of Miami
Best Director – “Deer God” by Tomorrow Mingtian from University of Miami
Best Documentary – “Ballet Bus” by Isaac Mead-Long from University of Miami
Best Drama – “Deer God” by Tomorrow Mingtian from University of Miami
Cinemaslam Audience Award – Oscuro by Yolanda Baez Oyola from Center of Cinematography, Arts, and Television
2016
Finalists competed for the Sara Fuller scholarship – a $500 (USD cash) prize courtesy of Film Florida – and the following awards:
CINEMASLAM CHAMPION (and Sarah Fuller Scholarship recipient)
“I Want to Beat Up Clark Peters”, by Joseph Picozzi
University of Miami
BEST DIRECTOR
“I Want to Beat Up Clark Peters”, by Joseph Picozzi
University of Miami
BEST ACTOR
Sean Ormond
“I Want to Beat Up Clark Peters”, by Joseph Picozzi
University of Miami
BEST ACTRESS
Amy Hoerler
“Fade In, Fade Out”, by Marvin Aguado
Miami Dade College
BEST DRAMA
“Hollow Bodies”, by Andrew Garcia
Miami Dade College in collaboration with Florida International University
BEST DOCUMENTARY
“Vicenta & Hospitalito”, by Ronnie Khalil
University of Miami
BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
“Hollow Bodies”, by Andrew Garcia
Miami Dade College in collaboration with Florida International University
AUDIENCE AWARD
“Anaphora”, by Ursula Canovas
Center of Cinematography Arts and TV
2015
Jury members Aaron Moorhead, Ayoub Qanir and Melissa Ader announced the winners in all categories in the Miami student film competition, at a presentation ceremony at MDC’s Tower Theater on March 6th. The audience award winner was announced by Festival director Jaie Laplante during the Patrón Opening Night Party at MDC’s Freedom Tower later that same evening.
- Grand Prize winner: “The First Day” (“El primer dia”) (Miami Dade College), produced by Rita Pereyra, Martin Castañeda and Andrea Estrada
- Audience Award winner: “The First Day” (“El primer dia”) (Miami Dade College)Best Documentary: “Romana” (University of Miami), produced by Barrett Dennison, Luis J. Galvis, Chantale Glover and Nick Katzenbach
- Best Drama: “The First Day” (“El primer dia”) (Miami Dade College)
- Best Actor: Juan Jimenez, “The First Day” (“El primer dia”) (Miami Dade College)
- Best Actress: Valentina Jimenez, “The First Day” (“El primer dia”) (Miami Dade College)
- Best Director: Rita Pereyra,“The First Day” (“El primer dia”) (Miami Dade College)
- Best Technical Achievement: Timothy Wilcox, “Top Shelf” (Miami Dade College)
2014
Best Technical Achievement
“It’s About Time” by Mark Pulaski
2013
- CINEMASLAM CHAMPION
“Cant”, by Sam Shaib
Miami International University - BEST DIRECTOR
“Cant”, by Sam Shaib
Miami International University - BEST ACTOR
Orlando Mendez (Bryan) in “Something Beautiful”
Miami Dade College - BEST ACTRESS
Kristen Nyman (Jenna) in “Something Beautiful”
Miami Dade College - BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
“Something Beautiful”, by Joey Desantino
Miami Dade College - BEST DRAMA
“Cant”, by Sam Shaib
Miami International University - BEST COMEDY
“Self Tourism”, by Tatiana Ordonez
Miami International University - BEST DOCUMENTARY
“Do Tell”, by Noah Debonis
University of Miami - JURY SPECIAL MENTION FOR ART DIRECTION
“Marine Stadium – The Story of Miami’s First DIY Skatepark”, by Nick Katz
New World School of the Arts (University of Florida)
2012
- CINEMASLAM CHAMPION
Oliver, by Tatiana Ordonez
Miami International University - BEST DIRECTOR
Luis Aquino for his film Gray
Miami International University - BEST ACTOR
Michael C. Nouri in Gray by Luis Aquino
Miami International University - BEST ACTRESS
Elvire Emmanuele in Language of Love
by Shane Kinsler
University of Miami - BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Gray, by Luis Aquino
Miami International University - BEST EXPERIMENTAL
Behind the Green Door, by Robert Colom
Florida International University - BEST DRAMA
Lake Laguson, by Alberto Hernandez
Miami Dade College - BEST ROMANTIC COMEDY
Language of Love, by Shane Kinsler
University of Miami
2011
Florida Focus Competition: CinemaSlam
- Winner: Augustus by Bobby Douge of Miami International University of Art & Design
- Honorable Mention: Nurse Interrupted by Lara Fuchsbrauner of Miami International University of Art & Design
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