Peter M. Brant Serves as a Judge for the 2015 Greenwich Youth Film Festival

Peter M. Brant, President of The Brant Foundation, Inc. is pleased to serve as a judge for the Greenwich Youth Film Festival, taking place April 26th, 2015.  Mr. Brant was chosen to be a judge by Ms. Alarice Taradash, a member of the 2015 Greenwich Youth Film Festival Committee:  “as a frequent visitor to the Brant Foundation, I have seen firsthand your dedication to promoting contemporary art.  It is because of this that I think you would make a perfect judge for our festival, and specifically for the “Experimental” film category.  We define this category as films that do not fit into any other categories and strive to embody indefinable creativity.”

Film submissions are from high school students in Fairfield and Westchester counties in any of the following genres: Creative, Documentary, Experimental, Social Action, Music Video, and Animation. Entries were accepted from December 1st until February 6th. In the past, judges have included notables such as Ron Howard, Amanda Seyfried, and David Levien.  The winners will have their work screened at the festival.

Mr. Brant’s responsibilities as judge include reviewing all the films submitted for his category, and to select  top five picks.  Based on previous years, we are expecting about ten or so submissions in each category.

Judges Awards

Best of the Festival, judged by owner of of Brown Saddle Films and founding partner of STATUO Mrs. Kristina Leigh Copeland

Resplendent by Gabrielle Giacomo

Best Poster, judged by graphic designer and founder of Bill Gold Advertising, Mr. Bill Gold

Isolation by Matt Wassong

Best Freshman Category, judged by entertainment publicist Mr. Gary Springer of Springer Associates Public Relations Firm

1st place – New Foods on the Block by Perry Barth and Laura Holland

2nd place tie – Stop Bullying Yourself by Kathryn Goodfriend, Jillian Larkin and Ava Bloom and
We Exist Too by Christina DeConcini, Caroline Dym and Maya Rajan.

3rd place – Behind the Camera: Lee Morgan by Christina DeConcini, Caroline Dym and Maya Rajan

Social Action Category, judged by producer and film financier of the Office of Technology Management Advisory Mr. Clay Pecorin

1st place – Asleep At the Wheel by Tevan Costoso

2nd place – Stop Bullying Yourself by Kathryn Goodfriend, Jillian Larkin and Ava Bloom

3rd place – In Their Shoes by Claire Uygur

Creative Category, judged by film editor, director, producer and cinematographer Mr. Joseph H. Biancaniello

1st place – In Time by Gabrielle Giacomo and Mary Grace Henry

2nd place – Hands by Claren Hesburgh and Jordan Cohen

3rd place –  The Marvelous McGuffins by Aggie Ryan

Animation Category, judged by Co-Owner of BuzzCo Associates, Incorporation Ms. Candy Kugel

1st place – Driving Towards a Better Future by Georgina Cahill

2nd place –  Man’s Best Friend by Patrick Neafsey

3rd place – A Little Help From My Friends by Cooper Yeager

Experimental Category, judged by Chairman and CEO of White Birth Paper Mr. Peter M. Brant

1st place – Self Portrait by Lauren Chapey

2nd place –  Shredding the Gnar by Ellen Pucel

3rd place – Pulse by Claire Uygur

Documentary Category, judged by Mr. Todd McCammon and Mrs. Linda Moroney from Low to the Ground Productions

1st place – Feeding the Addiction by Cynthia Thomas, Aggie Ryan and Riley Doyle

2nd place – Behind the Camera: Lee Morgan by Christina DeConcini, Caroline Dym and Maya Rajan.

3rd place – Taking it to the Streets by Tasha Adison, Quinn Butler and Juliette Guice

Music Video Category, judged by executive producer of The Howard Stern Show Mr. Gary Dell’Abate

1st place – Resplendent by Gabrielle Giacomo

2nd place – Ocean View by Jonathon Pasquarella

3rd place – Stranger by Sydney Agona

– Alana Galloway, Co-Features Editor

(Courtesy Junior League of Greenwich)