Union film studies students took home the award for the Best Original Screenplay at last week’s Refractions Student Film Festival, besting nine other films in their category.
Their film, “The Shadow,” is a 15-minute thriller that focuses on a college student who finds an old camcorder that contains a supernatural being.
It competed against entries by students from NYU, the New York Film Academy, the New School for Social Research, Skidmore College, the University at Albany, the State University of New York at New Paltz and RIT.
The film festival is hosted by Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Now in its second year, it gives aspiring collegiate filmmakers an opportunity to showcase their dedication to filmmaking and creative work while gaining exposure from a live audience.
Union’s winning filmmakers are Victoria Davison ’25, a visual arts major from Scotia, N.Y.; Simon Gray ’25, a computer science major from Clifton Park, N.Y.; Eva Veselova ’27, a psychology and English major from Moscow; and Nathan Wright ’27, a history and visual arts major from Melrose, Mass. Davison, Veselova and Wright all are film studies minors.
The students made “The Shadow” during the “Suspense!” course taught winter term by James de Sève, senior artist-in-residence, film studies, and co-director of the Film Studies Program. The class examines the work of suspense legend Alfred Hitchcock as a foundation for analyzing and practicing the elements used in successful suspense films.
Davison, who wrote the screenplay for “The Shadow,” accepted the award at the screening and ceremony at HVCC.
“Creating this film was a long and dedicated process, and it took substantial effort from our group and my personal circle of friends and family,” she said. “Professor de Sève constantly provided helpful pointers and insight, pushing us to challenge ourselves and make something we were proud of. The Union film program is filled with so much passion and creativity.”
“I am exceedingly proud of our students,” said de Sève. “They worked really hard to craft an amazing film. All of our competitors made excellent films, and getting into this festival was an achievement for all. Being selected as winner sweetens the icing on this cake.”