July 8, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

SMC Student Film Gets Special Mention For Best Film Fostering In Munich:

Santa Monica College student film Solidarity won the “Prix Intercultural Special Mention” for Best Film Fostering Intercultural Dialogue at the 2014 FilmSchoolFest Munich in Germany, held from Nov. 16-22.

SMC was the only film school from the United States to receive an award at the festival, one of the most respected student film festivals worldwide. The other two film schools invited this year were UCLA and Chapman University.

The award, sponsored by Interfilm Akademie Munchen, recognized two films: Deserted (Nivut Golem) by Yoav Hornung of Tel Aviv University with the Best Film Fostering Intercultural Dialogue Award; and the “Special Mention” Award in the same category to SMC’s Solidarity.

“I am very proud of Dustin [Brown] and of SMC’s film program because we are a high-quality, low-cost alternative coherent with SMC’s educational philosophy of universal access,” said Salvador Carrasco, head of SMC’s film production program, who received the award on behalf of Solidarity’s director, former SMC student Dustin Brown.

Solidarity – the first film to come out of SMC’s film production program – has screened at many national and international film festivals including the American Pavilion at Cannes, won Best Dramatic Short at the San Diego Film Festival and was nominated for a BAFTA Award. It portrays a woman from Mexico and a man from Lithuania who struggle to make a living in Los Angeles without green cards.

In their official statement, the jury stated: With remarkable sensitivity, this film shows how lonely illegal immigrants are and how that leads to their being exploited even more.

“My goal for Solidarity was not for it to get awards or be screened at prestigious festivals,” said Brown, who is currently in the directing program at the American Film Institute Conservatory. “I wanted to create a human story about the struggles of two undocumented immigrants that hopefully would resonate with people…if it contributes to creating a dialogue about the common dignity and respect we all deserve no matter what our background, then it’s a success for me.”

Brown credits the on-set experience, production classes, and mentorship opportunities he received as a student at SMC with enlarging his understanding of narrative filmmaking.

At the FilmSchoolFest, a festival where many successful directors such as Lars von Trier (Nymphomaniac) and David Yates (Harry Potter) had their first screenings, SMC’s Solidarity competed against 46 films from 39 film schools representing 22 countries. Only ten films from eight countries received awards.

“This festival was very special because it brought together the world’s top film schools and hosted both student filmmakers and their professors with incomparable generosity,” says Carrasco. “The films screened reaffirmed that nothing matters more in cinema than having something meaningful to say in an honest and engaging way. This premise is the staple of the films we are making at SMC!”

To see more about the film production program at SMC, visit the program’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/SMCFilm.

in News
<>Related Posts

Anti-Drunk Driving Resolution Introduced as City Council Honors Late Palisades Teen Killed in Crash

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Levi, who was set to attend the University of Virginia this fall, was killed by a drunk driver on May...

Free and Reduced Price School Meals Available for Eligible Families in Santa Monica-Malibu District

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Parents in Need Encouraged to Apply, SMMUSD Commits to Nutritious, Accessible Meals By Brandyi Phillips, SMMUSD Chief Communications Officer Santa...

Big Blue Bus to Raise Fares for First Time in Nearly a Decade

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

The fare increase aims to offset rising costs for fuel, utilities, and supplies, according to the agency. The Santa Monica...

Shore Hotel: A Local Destination for Summer Fun

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bring on all things summer. Walking or biking along Santa Monica Pier, you might find yourself taking a pause at...

Santa Monica’s 150th Anniversary to be Celebrated with Vibrant State of the City Event

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, beach chairs, and picnics to enjoy during the performances Santa Monica will mark its...

Soprano Golda Zahra Returns to BroadStage For a One-Night-Only Musical Celebration

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Hailed as “the rising star of the opera world” by The Hollywood Times, internationally acclaimed soprano Golda Zahra makes her much-anticipated return to BroadStage in...

(Video) Hundreds of Drones Light up the Sky for Palisades to Celebrate July 4th

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The Event Marked One of the First Large Gatherings Among Palisadians Since the January Wildfires. The Event Marked One of...

Transform Your Life: The Free Virtual ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT Debuts July 18-20, 2025

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT, a transformative three-day virtual event, is coming, July 18-20, 2025, offering participants worldwide a free opportunity...

Santa Monica Home Defies Convention: Architect Eric Owen Moss Debuts Shape-Shifting Design

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Pistachio-Colored Marvel Boasts Curving Walls, Sharp Angles, and Challenging Design A striking residence in Santa Monica is turning heads with...

Caitlyn Jenner’s Friend and Former Foundation CEO Dies in Malibu ATV Crash

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

ATV Plummeted 350 Feet After Rear-Ending Vehicle in Malibu Sophia Hutchins, former CEO of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation and longtime...

New SaMo Bridge Program Refers 56 People in First Month; 37 Connected to Services

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

According to city officials, the program is on pace to meet its goal of serving 260 individuals annually Santa Monica’s...

Multi-Family Venice Property on Rare Double Lot Lists at Over $5M

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

In total, the four units provide 5,398 square feet of living space A multi-family property located one block from Venice...

Hama Sushi Hosts Weekly Music and Comedy Open Mics

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The venue, a Venice Beach staple since 1979, has recently expanded its legendary happy hour to the entire patio Hama...

Connections Breakfast to Network Local Business Professionals in Malibu

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The event, sponsored by Malibu Country Mart, will feature a breakfast mixer where attendees can meet new contacts  A Connections...

12th Annual Gopher Scramble Golf Tournament to Benefit Venice Heritage Museum

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The museum opened to the public in March 2024 at the Main Street Design Center with its inaugural exhibition, “This...