14 Students Receive Scholarships at 2007 SEF Film Festival

First Place Winners Kevin Torres, Bryan Varner, Sheridan Allen and Alex Pace 

MAY 1, 2007 - It was standing room only at the 2007 Sequim Education Foundation Student Film Festival last Friday night as hundreds attended the second annual event.  Nine teams sported their films ranging from 3 ½ to 5 minutes.  The films ran the spectrum from comical to satirical to action to ethereal.  The excitement was deafening as the audience hooted and hollered for their favorite film. “I'm always amazed at the talent of our youth in this community,” stated Film Festival Chairwoman Elna Kawal.  ”Knowing that I'm part of something that is having a positive impact on kids is what drives me.”

“These young film producers are really learning to tell a story and they just get better every year; I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2008”, SEF president Dick Hughes, added.  “We really couldn’t have done this without the help of all the community members who pulled together to make the Film Festival a success.” 

Kevin Torres, Bryan Varner, Sheridan Allen and Alex Pace walked away with first place for their comedy, “The Terrific Three,” about a group of boys who gained super powers when their burrito-filled microwave malfunctioned.  “I wanted to prove to my mother that standing in front of a microwave is not always bad,” stated one of the team members.   The winning team split a $3,000 scholarship, compliments of a grant to SEF from the Albert Haller Foundation as well as each member receiving $50 cash, a personalized trophy and a certificate.  

Second place and team scholarship of $2,250 also from Albert Haller Foundation grant went to “Volition” by Jack Simmons, Ashley Erickson/Layton, Lucas Lahmeyer, Bud Turner, Breck Barnes, Ha?qwenith Grinnell, and Drake Apablasa for their riveting anti-drug film.  “We really put our hearts into this film.” stated Jack Simmons, “Without Ms. Wooley (high school librarian), none of this would have been possible.”  The team handed out a special award to Ms. Wooley while thanking all the people who helped make their film a success.  This film also won the coveted, people’s choice, Elkie Award, having received riotous applause and cheering.  The Elkie Award will go on display at Sequim High School .

In a tie for third place, the $1500 team scholarship contributed by Sequim Alumni Association was split between Tyler Lathrop’s, “My Hero,” an action-packed movie about his father’s record-setting Coast Guard high altitude rescue and “Super Sequim-ite” by Colin Haenel and Felisha Giralmo, a satirical pac-man like romp through multiple stores in Sequim.  Haenel, who waged war with his grandmother throughout parts of the film stated, “I wanted to thank my grandma.  She was kind of leery at the beginning but was a really good sport…  We really wanted to do something funny.”

Honorable mention was awarded to “Educationally Grounded” by Rebecca Case, Amy McAndie and Kimberly Duce who each received W al-Mart gift cards.

Other films included “The Krew” by Jack and Ted McColl and Wes Stromberg, “Thug the Cave Man” by Stacy Morgison, Les Graves and Bekah Clark, “Beyond” by Mark Davies, and “What Does FBLA Have In Store For You” by Brittany Nave, Monica Lopez, Vese Antrim and Jake Larson.  All participants received Certificates of Participation.

The evening was emcee’d by Blake Barnes and Andrew Nelson who kept the audience in stitches between films with humor, skits, and showers of candy.  “I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard” one audience member stated after the show was over.

Teams, parents and friends stayed late, sharing their film-creating stories and laughing.  Kawal, who eagerly listened to them all stated afterwards, “I had a parent express just how important it was to her son to be able to get up on that stage and earn some notoriety.  That’s what makes this event so special.  This parent revealed that her son has finally found something in school where he can shine.  Hearing comments like this makes me know that the Sequim Education Foundation has found another niche to help connect kids to their school and our community. This is what is so gratifying to me.”