SSOF Announces Film Finalists

(PRESS RELEASE)_PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (March 3, 2020) – With entries from all corners of the state, Florida’s largest student film competition and award show, The Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films (SSOF), announces this year’s list of talented high school and college finalists (in alphabetical order) :

Burt Reynolds & Sara Fuller Scholarships Finalists

Vincent Bonasera, G-Star School of the Arts (Palm Springs)
Morgan Davidson, Seminole Ridge High School (Loxahatchee)
Samuel Hahn, A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (West Palm Beach)
Heidi Kafer, G-Star School of the Arts (Palm Springs)
Savannah Lee, A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (West Palm Beach)
Carlos Novoa, G-Star School of the Arts (Palm Springs)

High School Feature/Short Finalists

Josh Ceranic, Harrison School for the Arts (Lakeland)
Caleb Cook, Christ’s Church Academy (Jacksonville)
Kaia Goudreau, Fort Lauderdale High School (Fort Lauderdale)
Heidi Kafer, G-Star School of the Arts (Palm Springs)
Jayden Torres, Alex Torres, Calyssa Setterberg, Harrison School for the Arts (Lakeland)
 
College Feature/Short Finalists

Chayse Banks, Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts (Tallahassee)
Sarah Holland, University of Central Florida (Orlando)
Yalan Hu, Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts (Tallahassee)
Arminio Rivero, Miami Dade College (Miami)
William Stead, Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts (Tallahassee)
 
The Vanilla Ice Music Video Finalists

Isaiah Fernandez, West Broward High School (Pembroke Pines)
Shelby Hatcher, Seminole Ridge High School (Loxahatchee)
Caitlin Morrissey and Evangelina Flores, Palm Beach Gardens High School (Palm Beach Gardens)

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The Suzanne L. Niedland Documentary Finalists

Tia Duhaney, Center for Creative Education (West Palm Beach)
Carsen Jessell, Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts (Tallahassee)
Alyssa Stephens, Inlet Grove High School (Riviera Beach)
 
Animation Finalists

Kathryn Heady, Ringling College of Art & Design (Sarasota)
Suyoung Jang, Ringling College of Art & Design (Sarasota)
Meg Oswalt and Andres Guerrero, Ringling College of Art & Design (Sarasota)
 
Commercial /PSA Finalists

Darian Haberland, BECON-Broward County Schools TV (Davie)
Heidi Kafer, G-Star School of the Arts, (Palm Springs)
Jackson Ring and Eva Erhardt, Howard W. Blake High School (Tampa)
 
Environmental PSA Finalists

Hillary Mauser and Grayson Zwickel, Palm Beach Gardens High School (Palm Beach Gardens)
Josh Riemer, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland)
Grayson Zwickel, Palm Beach Gardens High School (Palm Beach Gardens)
 
Education Awareness PSA Finalists

Alyssa Marrero, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland)
Parker Miller, Paxon School for Advanced Studies (Jacksonville)
Kevin Reyes, Christopher Columbus High School (Miami)
 
Nellie & Fred Chasin Screenwriting Finalists

Thomas McCabe, A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (West Palm Beach)
Courtney Nagle, Palm Beach State College (Lake Worth)
Molly Smith, Monteverde Academy (Clermont)
 
Poster Design Finalists

Kali Campos, Dixie Hollins High School (St. Petersburg)
Justin Del Cid, G-Star School of the Arts (Palm Springs)
Kaitlynn Touchton, Dixie Hollins High School (St. Petersburg)
 
Winners will be announced, and awards will be presented at an exciting, red carpet award show on Friday, April 3, 2020 at the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center at Lynn University. The award show is produced and hosted by award-winning actor/director Frank Licari (South Florida PBS’ On the Town in The Palm Beaches) and attracts a standing-room-only audience of students, celebrity presenters, industry professionals, government dignitaries, media and more. 

And, in a continuing tribute to the legacy of film legend, Burt Reynolds, the SSOF will present to a Palm Beach County high school senior, The Burt Reynolds Scholarship Award, a $5,000 cash prize. Mr. Reynolds was a longtime supporter and frequent presenter at the SSOF Red Carpet Award Show. The Sara Fuller Scholarship winner will receive $1,000.

Finalists were chosen by an international panel of 48 entertainment industry professionals. For a complete list of judges and their bios, please visit: http://www.pbfilm.com/SSOFJudgesfor2020

Now in its twenty-fifth year of existence, SSOF has awarded more than $1.6 million.  This year, the program boasts an increased award offering, with more than $20,000 in cash, scholarships and prizes.

The SSOF is the cornerstone of the education outreach initiative of The Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission.  The competition engages faculty and school administrators in guiding student participation.  The SSOF is funded by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners through the Department of Housing & Economic Sustainability and the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission. Award sponsors include Suzanne L. Niedland (Suzanne L. Niedland Documentary Scholarship), Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful, Inc. (Environmental PSA Award), Film Florida (Sara Fuller Scholarship), Michael Chasin (Nellie & Fred Chasin Screenwriting Award) and Ralfonso “Ralf” Gschwend (Poster Design Award).
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