’HOME’, ‘Best Kept Shut’ and ‘Sunday Dinna’ took top honors
Free streaming platform Mometu wrapped its third annual College Film Festival this past weekend with a packed in-person awards event in Los Angeles, recognizing standout work from student filmmakers across the country.
Best Picture, sponsored by TCL, went to HOME by Al Chang (Chapman University), a poignant, visually composed short exploring memory, family, and displacement. The award was selected by a jury of industry professionals alongside Mometu’s own programming team.
Producer’s Pick was awarded to Best Kept Shut by Gabriel Lopez (Ringling College of Art & Design), who secured a deal to collaborate with award sponsor Insurgence on developing the short thriller into a full-length feature.
The Audience Award, presented by OTTera and determined by live voting during the event, went to Sunday Dinna by Samantha Venturo (Savannah College of Art & Design), a heartfelt family drama that resonated with viewers in the room.
The event also saw Mometu partner with NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) to spotlight up-and-coming talent with honorable mentions and “Rising Creator” designations. This year’s selections included:
- Colin Miller, Between Us – California State University Long Beach
- Aranaya Sharma, GEMINI – Savannah College of Art & Design
- Musaid Abdullah, FITNA – California State University Northridge
“It’s a real privilege to celebrate and support the next wave of filmmakers, not just during the festival, but as they take their first real steps into the movie making business,” said Bryan Louzil, Festival Founder and VP of Business Development at Mometu. “These are voices the industry needs to be paying attention to.”
The festival was supported by key partners including Echelon Studios, OTT Studio, ElectricNOW, Sanctuary Candle Co., CTRL Agency, Emperium Studios and Foundation Distribution, all of whom share Mometu’s mission to champion diverse, rising talent.
Widely recognized for its commitment to independent and seldom-seen content, Mometu’s festival is increasingly being seen within the industry as a springboard for emerging talent, offering up-and-coming creators meaningful visibility, access to key industry players, and potential distribution opportunities.
