ArtsFest Film Festival Winners Announced

The first-ever ArtsFest Film Festival was held at The Picture House in Pelham on Saturday, October 19th , featuring 13 films by aspiring young film makers that ran the gamut from animated shorts to sci fi horror.

The Festival concluded with the presentation of awards:

  • Best Screenplay: “Apologetically Black” by Delano Allen
  • Best Editing: Eric Louis Jimenez for “FragilExpress: How I De-Stress”
  • Best Performance in an Animated Film: Anne Hessel and Alex Freeman for “The Lonely Gargoyle”
  • Best Performance by an Actor: Maiya Diarriso for “Apologetically Black”
  • Best Cinematography: Delano Allen for “Apologetically Black”
  • Best Sound Design: Bob Clark for “Dreamcatchers”
  • The Huguenot Award for Best Overall Film: Eric Louis Jimenez for “FragilExpress: How I De-Stress”

The Film Festival judges included Ross Cooper,  a marketing professional and adjunct professor of marketing at St. John’s University; Frank Harts, an actor whose credits include the Academy Award nominated film “Rustin” and the Tony Award winning play “Raisin in the Sun” and who has also produced two short films; and Craig Padawer , Curriculum Chair of Digital Film making at SUNY Westchester Community College and the author of “Close-Up: A Critical Introduction to Film.”

The ArtsFest Film Festival was organized by a committee that included Festival Director Andi Stix;  Clayton Bushong, Executive Director of The Picture House; and film makers Delano Allen, Bob Clark, and Ross Cooper. 

Now in its 15th year, ArtsFest is organized by the non-profit New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA) to spotlight the diversity of arts and artists in our community: In total ArtsFest 2024 featured nearly 50 venues representing the work of some 250 visual and performing artists.

Sponsors for this year’s ArtsFest included ArtsWestchester, The City of New Rochelle CLD, The Appleyard Trust Fund for New Rochelle Charities,  BRP, Ellen and Steve Sonet, RXR, M & T Bank, Montefiore New Rochelle, Charles Fazzino, The Arc, The Atelier, The Illustrator, Alvin & Friends, an anonymous donor, and in-kind donors AJ’s Burgers, the New Rochelle Public Library and Hotel NoMa.

 

About New Rochelle Council on the Arts

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts mission is to stimulate and encourage the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and the public\’s interest and participation therein. It has been exemplified by our sponsorship of a vast number of exhibitions, theatrical productions, dance recitals, film screenings, lectures, and concert series. To create opportunities for the public to encounter and explore art and increase access to the arts in New Rochelle.

NRCA has been in existence for nearly 40 years — it was created by a resolution adopted by the New Rochelle City Council on April 8, 1975. Our mission is to stimulate and encourage the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and the public’s interest and participation therein. This is exemplified by our sponsorship of a vast number of exhibitions, theatrical productions, dance recitals, film screenings, lectures, and concert series.