5-Minute Film Festival recognizes student talent

Office of Public Relations & Communications  |  04/25/2022

More than 350 students, faculty, parents and guests gathered in the Shinn Center Thursday evening, April 21, for the annual 5-Minute Film Festival, which celebrates student work in the Department of Cinematic Arts, housed in the George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts. 

Student work was nominated in 20 categories, which included two grand prize winners for Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short. The winners of these two categories are automatically entered into the Nashville Film Festival, which is part of the network that can award Oscar nominations. Below is a complete list of the 2022 winners.

Grand Prize for Best Live Action Short (which will also be screened at the Oscar-qualifying Nashville Film Festival):
Grand Prize: “The Trobie” directed by Phynley Joel
Second place: “Lone Lee” directed by Sam Dabbs and Sydney Thomason, produced by Stella Carey
Third place: “Kung Pao” directed by David King.

Grand Prize for Best Animated Short (which will also be screened at the Oscar-qualifying Nashville Film Festival):
Grand Prize: “Ember and the Keeper of the Cauldron” directed by Natalie Peterson and Audrey Witherspoon
Second place: “The End” directed by Meghan Urbytes, produced by Ellie Lenz
Third place: “Enlightened” directed by Caelin Davis

Best Music Video:
First place: “I Don’t Know You Like I Used To” (Mercury) directed by Phynley Joel  
Second place: “For God is With Us” (For King & Country) directed by Josie Clark 
Third place: “Captain Hicks” (Gradient) directed by Jessi Petersen

Best Short Documentary:
“The Scripture Avenger: Story of a Superhero” directed by Ford Hulgan.

Best Unproduced Screenplay:
First place: “Where Did The Sunshine Go?” by Rachel White
Tied for second place: “The Moon Festival” by Meredith Powers AND “Stuck” by Sydney Thomason
Third place: “The Mage’s Cheese” by Chloe Arvin

Best Actor:
First place: Haden Lindsey in “Forever Not”
Second place: Harrison Akers in “Kung Pao”
Third place: Aedan Farist in “Jane Brain”

Best Actress:
First place: Audrey Venable in “Loop”
Second place: Claire Hopkins in “Fragile Femininity”
Third place: Audrey Venable in “Forever Not”

Audience Award for Best Live Action Short:
“Jane Brain” directed by Maddi Reimer

Audience Award for Best Animated Short:
“The End” directed by Meghan Urbytes, produced by Ellie Lenz

Audience Award for Best Music Video:
“I Don’t Know You Like I Used To” (Mercury) directed by Phynley Joel  

Best Animation Screenplay:
First place: “The End” by Meghan Urbytes
Second place: “Waltz of the Citrus Prince” by Rachel Winsor 
Third place: “Enlightened” by Caelin Davis

Best Live Action Screenplay:
First place: “Lone Lee” by Stella Carey
Second place: “Kung Pao” by David King
Tied for Third place: “Forever Not” by Christopher Jimenez AND “The Trobie” by Phynley Joel

Best Cinematography:
“Lone Lee” cinematography by Mary Ziebarth

Best Music Video Cinematography:
Will Smitherman for “I Don’t Know You Like I Used To” (Mercury) 

Best Animation Original Music Score:
Tied for First place: “Ember and the Keeper of the Cauldron” music by Claire Hopkins AND “Enlightened” music by Luke Snyder
Second place: “The End” music by Luke Snyder and Sydney Brown
Third place: “Meaning?” music by Sam Duong 

Best Live Action Original Music Score:
First place: “Lone Lee” music by Judson Gay
Second place: “Teleporting Briefcase” music by Tyler H. W. Lewis
Third place: “Collision Course” music by Brett Boyd

Best Animation Sound Design:
“Ember and the Keeper of the Cauldron” sound design by McKenzie Chaffins and Audrey Witherspoon

Best Live Action Sound Design:
“Lone Lee” sound design by Mary Ziebarth

Best Editing:
“The Trobie” edited by Phynley Joel

Best Poster Design:
First place: “Kung Pao” poster design by Kristen Kelly
Second place: “Lone Lee” poster design by Mackenna Hood
Tied for Third place: “Teleporting Briefcase” poster design by Avery Butts AND “Loop” poster design by Caitlin Burke